title: TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) promotes kidney fibrosis and Ras-dependent proliferation of cultured renal fibroblast.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) regulates apoptosis, proliferation and inflammation in renal epithelial cells and plays a role in acute kidney injury. However, there is little information on the chronic effects of TWEAK. We hypothesized that TWEAK may influence renal fibrosis and regulate kidney fibroblast biology, in part, through Ras pathway. We studied a chronic model of experimental unilateral ureteral obstruction in wild type and TWEAK deficient mice, and a murine model of systemic TWEAK overexpression. TWEAK actions were also explored in cultured renal and embryonic fibroblasts. TWEAK and TWEAK receptor expression was increased in the obstructed kidneys. The absence of TWEAK decreased early kidney tubular damage, inflammatory infiltrates and myofibroblast number. TWEAK deficient mice had decreased renal fibrosis 21days after obstruction, as assessed by extracellular matrix staining. In mice without prior underlying kidney disease, systemic overexpression of TWEAK induced kidney inflammation and fibrosis. In cultured fibroblasts, TWEAK induced proliferation through activation of the Ras/ERK pathway. TWEAK also activated nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-dependent inflammatory chemokine production in murine renal fibroblasts. In conclusion, lack of TWEAK reduces renal fibrosis in a model of persistent kidney insult and overexpression of TWEAK led to renal fibrosis. TWEAK actions on renal fibroblasts may contribute to the in vivo observations, as TWEAK promotes inflammatory activity and proliferation in fibroblast cultures.
authors.affiliation: IIS-FundacionJimenezDiaz, Av. Reyes Católicos, Madrid, Spain. alvaro.ucero@fjd.es
authors.forename: Alvaro C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ucero
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benito-Martin
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Calvo
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santamaria
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lopez-Novoa
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Ortega
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egido
authors.forename: Linda C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Burkly
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martinez-Salgado
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000473:pathology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051379:Mice; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; C491645:Tnfsf12 protein, mouse; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors; D018631:ras Proteins
keywords: Fn14; Kidney fibrosis; NFκB; Proliferation; Ras; TWEAK