Title:MiR-29b Alleviates High Glucose-induced Inflammation and Apoptosis in Podocytes by Down-regulating PRKAB2
Volume: 24
Issue: 8
Author(s): Hongxiu Du, Yakun Wang, Yingchun Zhu, Xiaoying Li, Tingying Zhu, Qianqian Wu and Fangfang Zha*
Affiliation:
- Department of Nephrology, Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, 1158 Gongyuan East
Road, Qingpu District, Shanghai, 201799, China
Keywords:
Cell apoptosis, diabetic nephropathy, inflammation, microRNAs, podocytes, PRKAB2 protein.
Abstract:
Background: Podocyte injury and inflammatory response are the core contributors to
the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. This study aims to identify novel regulatory miRNAs
and elucidate their underlying mechanisms, which will help us understand the pathogenesis of
diabetic nephropathy more comprehensively.
Materials and Methods: Different glucose concentrations were used to treat podocytes to mimic
the pathology of diabetic nephropathy in vitro. Flow cytometry was used to determine cell
apoptosis. Inflammatory cytokines released by podocytes were measured by using an enzymelinked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western Blot was used to detect the expression of
PRKAB2 protein in podocytes.
Results: Genecard and g: profiler results revealed that miR-29b might be involved in regulating
HG-induced cell injury. QRT-PCR indicated that HG-induced downregulation of miR-29b in
podocytes. MiR-29b knockdown promoted cell apoptosis and inflammatory response in podocytes.
MiR-29b overexpression repressed cell apoptosis and inflammatory response induced by
high glucose treatment in podocytes. Luciferase reporter assay and Western Blot showed that
miR-29b targeted PRKAB2 to negatively regulate PRKAB2 expression directly. Knockdown of
PRKAB2 reversed the increased cell apoptosis and inflammation induced by miR-29b inhibitors.
Conclusion: MiR-29b plays a role in inhibiting inflammation and apoptosis in high glucose
(HG) treated podocytes by negatively regulating PRKAB2 expression. This study provides new
potential targets and ideas for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
