Angiotensin II induces kidney inflammatory injury and fibrosis through binding to myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD2)

Sci Rep. 2017 Mar 21:7:44911. doi: 10.1038/srep44911.

Abstract

Growing evidence indicates that angiotensin II (Ang II), a potent biologically active product of RAS, is a key regulator of renal inflammation and fibrosis. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that Ang II induces renal inflammatory injury and fibrosis through interaction with myeloid differentiation protein-2 (MD2), the accessory protein of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) of the immune system. Results indicated that in MD2-/- mice, the Ang II-induced renal fibrosis, inflammation and kidney dysfunction were significantly reduced compared to control Ang II-infused wild-type mice. Similarly, in the presence of small molecule MD2 specific inhibitor L6H21 or siRNA-MD2, the Ang II-induced increases of pro-fibrotic and pro-inflammatory molecules were prevented in tubular NRK-52E cells. MD2 blockade also inhibited activation of NF-κB and ERK. Moreover, MD2 blockade prevented the Ang II-stimulated formation of the MD2/TLR4/MyD88 signaling complex, as well as the increased surface binding of Ang II in NRK-52E cells. In addition, Ang II directly bound recombinant MD2 protein, rather than TLR4 protein. We conclude that MD2 is a significant contributor in the Ang II-induced kidney inflammatory injury in chronic renal diseases. Furthermore, MD2 inhibition could be a new and important therapeutic strategy for preventing progression of chronic renal diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin II / adverse effects
  • Angiotensin II / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Fibrosis
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Kidney Diseases / etiology*
  • Kidney Diseases / metabolism*
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology
  • Kidney Function Tests
  • Kidney Tubules / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / genetics
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Ly96 protein, mouse
  • Lymphocyte Antigen 96
  • NF-kappa B
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Angiotensin II
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases