Neonatal obstructive nephropathy induces necroptosis and necroinflammation

Sci Rep. 2019 Dec 9;9(1):18600. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-55079-w.

Abstract

Urinary tract obstruction during kidney development causes tubular apoptosis, tubular necrosis, and interstitial inflammation. Necroptosis is a subtype of programmed necrosis mediated by the receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase-3 (RIPK3) and the pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL). Necrosis induces inflammation and stimulates cell death in an autoamplification loop named necroinflammation. Here, we studied necroptosis and necroinflammation in obstructive nephropathy induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in neonatal C57Bl/6J mice. Ureteral obstruction induced tubular dilatation, tubular basement membrane thickening, cast formation, and increased expression of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1). Morphological investigations showed either apoptotic or necrotic cells in the tubular compartment. Biochemical analysis revealed increased caspase-8 activity and upregulation of RIPK3 as well as phosphorylated-MLKL in UUO-kidneys. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1α, INF-γ, TNF-α) were upregulated following UUO. Taken together we show that necroptosis and necroinflammation are accompanied phenomena in neonatal kidneys with obstruction. These findings may help to develop novel strategies to treat congenital obstructive nephropathy.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Apoptosis
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Inflammation / metabolism
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Diseases / metabolism
  • Kidney Diseases / physiopathology*
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Necroptosis*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • MLKL protein, mouse
  • Protein Kinases
  • Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Ripk3 protein, mouse
  • MAP Kinase Kinase Kinases