All authors read and approved the final manuscript. Consent Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A CP-690550 copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.
There is a growing appreciation of the role of endogenously produced lipid mediators including lipoxins, resolvins, and PGD synthase metabolites in promoting the resolution of inflammatory responses.1�C4 We and others recently described distinct proresolution and antifibrotic properties of lipoxins in renal fibrosis.5,6 TGF-��1 is implicated in numerous fibrotic conditions including tubulointerstitial fibrosis and diabetic kidney disease.
The development of fibrosis in this context may reflect activation of parenchymal fibroblasts, recruitment of circulating fibrocytes, and de-differentiation of epithelia and pericytes.7,8 In this study, we investigated the effect of lipoxin A4 (LXA4) on TGF-��1�Cinduced fibrotic responses of renal epithelial cells and the mechanism underlying attenuation of this fibrotic injury pattern by lipoxins. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise a class of small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulate gene expression by base-pairing to partially complementary sites in the 3�� untranslated regions (UTRs) of target mRNA, preventing translation. miRNAs are implicated in the development and progression of a wide range of complex human diseases,9�C12 including diabetic nephropathy.13�C15 Here we report that LXA4 upregulates expression of the miRNA let-7c in HK-2 cells and attenuates response to TGF-��1.
Lipoxins are protective in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)�Cinduced renal fibrosis and we report that this is associated with increased let-7c expression. Conversely, TGF-��1 decreases let-7c expression and this is associated with increased expression of let-7c targets, including TGF�� receptor type 1 (TGF��R1), collagens (COL1A1, COL1A2), and thrombospondin (THBS1). Overexpression of let-7c mimics the fibrosuppressant effects of LXA4, whereas suppression of let-7c mimics responses to TGF-��1. The importance of regulation of let-7c targets is further supported by evidence from human renal biopsy material where we report upregulation of several let-7c targets in CKD. Results LXA4 Attenuates TGF-��1 Responses of Renal Epithelia We investigated the effect of LXA4 on TGF-��1�Cdriven fibrotic responses of human proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells.
LXA4 is the predominant lipoxin generated in humans and binds to a G protein-coupled receptor designated ALX/FPR2.3,16 Using semi-quantitative PCR, we detected expression of ALX/FPR2 in HK-2 cells (Figure 1A), and ALX/FPR2 expression Batimastat in human mesangial cells was used as a positive control.17,18 TGF-��1 (10 ng/ml; 24 hours) induced a loss of the epithelial marker E-cadherin (CDH1), gain of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin (CDH2) and fibronectin (FN1), and upregulation of jagged-1 (JAG1) (Figure 1, B and C).