title: Osteopontin knockdown in the kidneys of hyperoxaluric rats leads to reduction in renal calcium oxalate crystal deposition.
abstract: Osteopontin (OPN) expression is increased in kidneys of rats with ethylene glycol (EG) induced hyperoxaluria and calcium oxalate (CaOx) nephrolithiasis. The aim of this study is to clarify the effect of OPN knockdown by in vivo transfection of OPN siRNA on deposition of CaOx crystals in the kidneys. Hyperoxaluria was induced in 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats by administering 1.5% EG in drinking water for 2 weeks. Four groups of six rats each were studied: Group A, untreated animals (tap water); Group B, administering 1.5% EG; Group C, 1.5% EG with in vivo transfection of OPN siRNA; Group D, 1.5% EG with in vivo transfection of negative control siRNA. OPN siRNA transfections were performed on day 1 and 8 by renal sub-capsular injection. Rats were killed at day 15 and kidneys were removed. Extent of crystal deposition was determined by measuring renal calcium concentrations and counting renal crystal deposits. OPN siRNA transfection resulted in significant reduction in expression of OPN mRNA as well as protein in group C compared to group B. Reduction in OPN expression was associated with significant decrease in crystal deposition in group C compared to group B. Specific suppression of OPN mRNA expression in kidneys of hyperoxaluric rats leads to a decrease in OPN production and simultaneously inhibits renal crystal deposition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan, tsujihidenori@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hidenori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuji
authors.forename: Nobutaka
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: Tohru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umekawa
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Velasco
authors.forename: Hirotsugu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uemura
authors.forename: Saeed R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003460:Crystallization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006959:Hyperoxaluria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053040:Nephrolithiasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C506897:Spp1 protein, rat; D053495:Osteopontin; D002129:Calcium Oxalate