In vivo silencing of amphiregulin by a novel effective Self-Assembled-Micelle inhibitory RNA ameliorates renal fibrosis via inhibition of EGFR signals

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 26;11(1):2191. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81726-2.

Abstract

Amphiregulin (AREG) is a transmembrane glycoprotein recently implicated in kidney fibrosis. Previously, we reported that the AREG-targeting Self-Assembled-Micelle inhibitory RNA (SAMiRNA-AREG) alleviated fibrosis by stably silencing the AREG gene, and reduced the side effects of conventional siRNA treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the therapeutic effect of SAMiRNA-AREG in renal fibrosis has not been studied until now. We used two animal models of renal fibrosis generated by a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and an adenine diet (AD) to investigate whether SAMiRNA-AREG inhibited renal fibrosis. To investigate the delivery of SAMiRNA-AREG to the kidney, Cy5-labeled SAMiRNA-AREG was injected into UUO- and AD-induced renal fibrosis models. In both kidney disease models, SAMiRNA-AREG was delivered primarily to the damaged kidney. We also confirmed the protective effect of SAMiRNA-AREG in renal fibrosis models. SAMiRNA-AREG markedly decreased the UUO- and AD-induced AREG mRNA expression. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of fibrosis markers, including α-smooth muscle actin, fibronectin, α1(I) collagen, and α1(III) collagen in the UUO and AD-induced kidneys, was diminished in the SAMiRNA-AREG-treated mice. The transcription of inflammatory markers (tumor necrosis factor-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and adhesion markers (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1) was attenuated. The hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and immunohistochemical staining results showed that SAMiRNA-AREG decreased renal fibrosis, AREG expression, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation in the UUO- and AD-induced models. Moreover, we studied the effects of SAMiRNA-AREG in response to TGF-β1 in mouse and human proximal tubule cells, and mouse fibroblasts. TGF-β1-induced extracellular matrix production and myofibroblast differentiation were attenuated by SAMiRNA-AREG. Finally, we confirmed that upregulated AREG in the UUO or AD models was mainly localized in the distal tubules. In conclusion, SAMiRNA-AREG represents a novel siRNA therapeutic for renal fibrosis by suppressing EGFR signals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine
  • Amphiregulin / genetics
  • Amphiregulin / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Diet
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Down-Regulation / genetics
  • ErbB Receptors / metabolism*
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Fibrosis
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / metabolism
  • Kidney Tubules, Proximal / pathology
  • Kinetics
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Micelles*
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism
  • Ureteral Obstruction / complications

Substances

  • Amphiregulin
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • Cytokines
  • Micelles
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • RNA
  • ErbB Receptors
  • Adenine