Promotion of β-catenin/Foxo1 signaling ameliorates renal interstitial fibrosis

Lab Invest. 2019 Nov;99(11):1689-1701. doi: 10.1038/s41374-019-0276-z. Epub 2019 Jun 26.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is the key cytokine involved in causing fibrosis through cross-talk with major profibrotic pathways. However, inhibition of TGF-β to prevent fibrosis would also abrogate its anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects. β-catenin is a common co-factor in most TGF-β signaling pathways. β-catenin binds to T-cell factor (TCF) to activate profibrotic genes and binds to Forkhead box O (Foxo) to promote cell survival under oxidative stress. Using a proximity ligation assay in human kidney biopsies, we found that β-catenin/Foxo interactions were higher in kidney with little fibrosis, whereas β-catenin/TCF interactions were upregulated in the kidney of patients with fibrosis. We hypothesised that β-catenin/Foxo is protective against kidney fibrosis. We found that Foxo1 protected against rhTGF-β1-induced profibrotic protein expression using a CRISPR/cas9 knockout of Foxo1 or TCF1 in murine kidney tubular epithelial C1.1 cells. Co-administration of TGF-β with a small molecule inhibitor of β-catenin/TCF (ICG-001), protected against kidney fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction. Collectively, our human, animal and in vitro findings suggest β-catenin/Foxo as a therapeutic target in kidney fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / pharmacology
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibrosis
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / deficiency
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / genetics
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1 / metabolism*
  • Gene Knockout Techniques
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / deficiency
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / genetics
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Kidney / drug effects
  • Kidney / metabolism*
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Diseases / metabolism*
  • Kidney Diseases / pathology
  • Kidney Diseases / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Pyrimidinones / pharmacology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • beta Catenin / antagonists & inhibitors
  • beta Catenin / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic
  • CTNNB1 protein, human
  • CTNNB1 protein, mouse
  • FOXO1 protein, human
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • HNF1A protein, human
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Hnf1a protein, mouse
  • ICG 001
  • Pyrimidinones
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • beta Catenin