Role of WNT10A-expressing kidney fibroblasts in acute interstitial nephritis

PLoS One. 2014 Jul 23;9(7):e103240. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103240. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

WNT signaling mediates various physiological and pathological processes. We previously showed that WNT10A is a novel angio/stromagenic factor involved in such processes as tumor growth, wound healing and tissue fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the role of WNT10A in promoting the fibrosis that is central to the pathology of acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). We initially asked whether there is an association between kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate; eGFR) and WNT10A expression using kidney biopsies from 20 patients with AIN. Interestingly, patients with WNT10A expression had significantly lower eGFR than WNT10A-negative patients. However, changes in kidney function were not related to the level of expression of other WNT family members. Furthermore, there was positive correlation between WNT10A and α-SMA expression. We next investigated the involvement of WNT10A in kidney fibrosis processes using COS1 cells, a kidney fibroblast cell line. WNT10A overexpression increased the level of expression of fibronectin and peroxiredoxin 5. Furthermore, WNT10A overexpression renders cells resistant to apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide and high glucose. Collectively, WNT10A may induce kidney fibrosis and associate with kidney dysfunction in AIN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / analysis
  • Actins / genetics
  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Apoptosis
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology*
  • Fibronectins / metabolism
  • Fibrosis
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology*
  • Kidney / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / genetics*
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / pathology*
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / physiopathology
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Wnt Proteins / analysis
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics*
  • Wnt Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • ACTA2 protein, human
  • Actins
  • Fibronectins
  • WNT10A protein, human
  • Wnt Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Number 22249025) and an UOEH grant for advanced research to Ke-Yong Wang. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.