title: Development of age-dependent glomerular lesions in galectin-3/AGE-receptor-3 knockout mice.
abstract: Aging is characterized by renal functional and structural abnormalities resembling those observed in diabetes. These changes have been related to the progressive accumulation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and cumulative oxidative stress occurring in both conditions. We previously reported that galectin-3 ablation is associated with increased susceptibility to diabetes- and AGE-induced glomerulopathy, thus indicating a protective role of galectin-3 as an AGE receptor. To investigate the role of the AGE/AGE receptor pathway in the pathogenesis of age-related renal disease, we evaluated the development of glomerular lesions in aging galectin-3 knockout (KO) vs. wild-type (WT) mice and their relation to the increased AGE levels and oxidative stress characterizing the aging process. KO mice showed significantly more pronounced age-dependent increases in proteinuria, albuminuria, glomerular sclerosis, and glomerular and mesangial areas, starting at 18 mo, as well as renal extracellular matrix mRNA and protein expression, starting at 12 mo vs. age-matched WT mice. Circulating and renal AGEs, plasma isoprostane 8-epi-PGF2alpha levels, glomerular content of the glycoxidation and lipoxidation products N(epsilon)-carboxymethyllysine and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, and renal nuclear factor-kappaB activity also increased more markedly with age in KO than WT mice. AGE levels correlated significantly with renal functional and structural parameters. These data indicate that aging galectin-3 KO mice develop more pronounced changes in renal function and structure than coeval WT mice, in parallel with a more marked degree of AGE accumulation, oxidative stress, and associated low-grade inflammation, thus supporting the concept that the AGE/AGE receptor pathway is implicated in age-related renal disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore de Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Iacobini
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Oddi
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menini
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amadio
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Clelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Pippo
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sorcini
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pricci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pugliese
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000378:metabolism; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology; D008239:Lysine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D037502:Galectin 3; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; D011971:Receptors, Immunologic; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; C048496:N(6)-carboxymethyllysine; D015237:Dinoprost; C027576:4-hydroxy-2-nonenal; D008239:Lysine