A novel indole compound MA-35 attenuates renal fibrosis by inhibiting both TNF-α and TGF-β1 pathways

Sci Rep. 2017 May 15;7(1):1884. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01702-7.

Abstract

Renal fibrosis is closely related to chronic inflammation and is under the control of epigenetic regulations. Because the signaling of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) play key roles in progression of renal fibrosis, dual blockade of TGF-β1 and TNF-α is desired as its therapeutic approach. Here we screened small molecules showing anti-TNF-α activity in the compound library of indole derivatives. 11 out of 41 indole derivatives inhibited the TNF-α effect. Among them, Mitochonic Acid 35 (MA-35), 5-(3, 5-dimethoxybenzyloxy)-3-indoleacetic acid, showed the potent effect. The anti-TNF-α activity was mediated by inhibiting IκB kinase phosphorylation, which attenuated the LPS/GaIN-induced hepatic inflammation in the mice. Additionally, MA-35 concurrently showed an anti-TGF-β1 effect by inhibiting Smad3 phosphorylation, resulting in the downregulation of TGF-β1-induced fibrotic gene expression. In unilateral ureter obstructed mouse kidney, which is a renal fibrosis model, MA-35 attenuated renal inflammation and fibrosis with the downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and fibrotic gene expressions. Furthermore, MA-35 inhibited TGF-β1-induced H3K4me1 histone modification of the fibrotic gene promoter, leading to a decrease in the fibrotic gene expression. MA-35 affects multiple signaling pathways involved in the fibrosis and may recover epigenetic modification; therefore, it could possibly be a novel therapeutic drug for fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Fibrosis
  • Hepatitis / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis / etiology
  • Hepatitis / metabolism
  • Hepatitis / pathology
  • Histones / metabolism
  • Humans
  • I-kappa B Kinase / metabolism
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Kidney Diseases / drug therapy
  • Kidney Diseases / etiology
  • Kidney Diseases / metabolism*
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / adverse effects
  • Male
  • Methylation
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects*
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*

Substances

  • Histones
  • Indoles
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • I-kappa B Kinase