Inhibition of integrin-linked kinase blocks podocyte epithelial-mesenchymal transition and ameliorates proteinuria

Young Sun Kang, Yingjian Li, Chunsun Dai, Lawrence P. Kiss, Chuanyue Wu, Youhua Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

143 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Proteinuria is a primary clinical symptom of a large number of glomerular diseases that progress to end-stage renal failure. Podocyte dysfunctions play a fundamental role in defective glomerular filtration in many common forms of proteinuric kidney disorders. Since binding of these cells to the basement membrane is mediated by integrins, we determined the role of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) in podocyte dysfunction and proteinuria. ILK expression was induced in mouse podocytes by various injurious stimuli known to cause proteinuria including TGF-Β1, adriamycin, puromycin, and high ambient glucose. Podocyte ILK was also found to be upregulated in human proteinuric glomerular diseases. Ectopic expression of ILK in podocytes decreased levels of the epithelial markers nephrin and ZO-1, induced mesenchymal markers such as desmin, fibronectin, matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), promoted cell migration, and increased the paracellular albumin flux across podocyte monolayers. ILK also induced Snail, a key transcription factor mediating epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Blockade of ILK activity with a highly selective small molecule inhibitor reduced Snail induction and preserved podocyte phenotypes following TGF-Β1 or adriamycin stimulation. In vivo, this ILK inhibitor ameliorated albuminuria, repressed glomerular induction of MMP-9 and α-SMA, and preserved nephrin expression in murine adriamycin nephropathy. Our results show that upregulation of ILK is a convergent pathway leading to podocyte EMT, migration, and dysfunction. ILK may be an attractive target for therapeutic intervention of proteinuric kidney diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)363-373
Number of pages11
JournalKidney International
Volume78
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010 Aug
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health Grants DK061408, DK064005 and DK071040 (YL), and DK054639 (CW).

Keywords

  • adriamycin
  • integrin-linked kinase
  • podocyte
  • proteinuria

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Nephrology

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