title: Molecular mechanisms of TGF beta receptor-triggered signaling cascades rapidly induced by the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A and FK506.
abstract: The calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced renal fibrosis is attributed to an exaggerated deposition of extracellular matrix, which is mainly due to an increased expression of TGFbeta. Herein we demonstrate that the CNI cyclosporin A and tacrolimus (FK506), independent of TGFbeta synthesis, rapidly activate TGFbeta/Smad signaling in cultured mesangial cells and in whole kidney samples from CNI-treated rats. By EMSA, we demonstrate increased DNA binding of Smad-2, -3, and -4 to a cognate Smad-binding promoter element (SBE) accompanied by CNI-triggered activation of Smad-dependent expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) and connective tissue growth factor. Using an activin receptor-like kinase-5 (ALK-5) inhibitor and by small interfering RNA we depict a critical involvement of both types of TGFbeta receptors in CNI-triggered Smad signaling and fibrogenic gene expression, respectively. Mechanistically, CNI cause a rapid activation of latent TGFbeta, which is prevented in the presence of the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. A convergent activation of p38 MAPK is indicated by the partial blockade of CNI-induced Smad-2 activation by SB203580; conversely, both TGFbeta-RII and TGFbeta are critically involved in p38 MAPK activation by CNI. Activation of both signaling pathways is similarly triggered by reactive oxygen species. Finally, we show that neutralization of TGFbeta markedly reduced the CNI-dependent Smad activation in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, this study demonstrates that CNI via reactive oxygen species generation activate latent TGFbeta and thereby initiate the canonical Smad pathway by simultaneously activating p38 MAPK, which both synergistically induce Smad-driven gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: El-Sayed
authors.initials: el-S
authors.lastname: Akool
authors.forename: Anke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doller
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Babelova
authors.forename: Wasiliki
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tsalastra
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moreth
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pfeilschifter
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eberhardt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005355:Fibrosis; D006801:Humans; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008297:Male; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D065095:Calcineurin Inhibitors; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051899:Smad2 Protein; C497784:Smad2 protein, rat; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016572:Cyclosporine; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; C000625841:TGFBR1 protein, human; C000625843:Tgfbr1 protein, rat; D016559:Tacrolimus