Abstract
Elevated blood level of C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with increased risk of chronic kidney disease. However, whether this association reflects functional importance of CRP in the pathogenesis of kidney disease remains unclear. In this study, we examined the biological role of CRP in a well-characterized model of progressive kidney disease, unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), in mice that express the human CRP gene (CRPtg). Compared with wild-type (Wt) mice at 3 days after UUO, CRPtg mice developed more severe renal inflammation with a significant increase in tubulointerstitial T cells and macrophages, upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), chemokines (MCP-1), and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1). Renal fibrosis was also significantly enhanced in CRPtg mice as demonstrated by increased expression of tubulointerstitial α-smooth muscle actin and collagen types I and III compared with Wt mice. Interestingly, on days 7 and 14 after UUO, an equal severity of renal inflammation and fibrosis were observed in CRPtg and Wt mice. These findings suggested that CRP may have a role in the initiation of renal inflammation and fibrosis. Further study revealed that enhanced early renal inflammation and fibrosis on day 3 in CRPtg mice was associated with a significant upregulation of endogenous mouse CRP and FcγRI mRNA and increased activation of both NF-κB/p65 and TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling, while equal severity of progressive renal injury at day 7 and day 14 between CRPtg and Wt mice were attributed to equivalent levels of CRP, FcγRI, phospho-NF-κB/p65, and TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling. Based on these findings, we conclude that CRP may not only be a biomarker, but also a mediator in the early development of renal inflammation and fibrosis in a mouse model of UUO. Enhanced activation of both NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways may be mechanisms by which CRP promotes early renal inflammation and fibrosis.
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Main
Inflammation is prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and worsens as the CKD progresses toward end-stage renal disease (ESRD).1, 2, 3 Chronic inflammatory states in CKD patients are associated with elevated levels of serum acute phase proteins, including C-reactive protein (CRP).1, 2, 3 CRP is rapidly synthesized by the liver in response to infection, inflammation, and tissue damage.4 Currently, CRP serves as one of the most important inflammatory marker in many chronic diseases, including CKD, diabetes, and major cardiovascular diseases.1, 2, 3, 5, 6 Increasing evidence also suggests that CRP may act as an inflammatory mediator during artherogenesis and thrombosis.7, 8, 9 CRP activates endothelial cells to express adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and E-selectin.10, 11, 12 CRP has significant effects on monocytes and macrophages and induces expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1).13, 14 Most recently, we also demonstrated that CRP exacerbates hypertensive cardiac remodeling under high angiotensin II conditions.15
Although many studies have shown that CRP is increased with declining renal function in CKD, even before ESRD,16, 17, 18, 19 a pathogenic role of CRP in the development of CKD remains unproven. Thus, whether CRP is solely a biomarker or also a mediator of the pathogenesis of CKD remains an unanswered question. In the present study, we sought an answer to this question using a CRP transgenic mouse (CRPtg) model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
CRP Transgenic Mice
Ten- to 12-week-old male CRPtg and wild type (Wt) (littermates with a C57BL/6J background, 20–25 g) were used for this study. Characterization of CRPtg mice have been described previously and CRPtg mice were identified by genotyping of tail DNA with primers.20 In healthy male CRPtg mice, human CRP is generally present in the blood at concentrations of 3–10 μg/ml but at high levels (>500 μg/ml) during an endotoxemia or infection-induced acute phase response.4, 21
Obstructive Kidney Disease Model
Progressive kidney disease was induced in CRPtg and age-matched congenic Wt mice by left ureteral ligation (UUO) as described previously.22, 23, 24 In order to examine the pathogenic role of CRP in the initiation and progression of kidney injury, groups of 8 CRPtg mice and 8 Wt mice were killed on days 3, 7, and 14 after ureteral ligation. As controls, additional groups of age-matched CRPtg and Wt mice (six each) were killed on each time point on days 3, 7, and 14 after sham surgery. Kidney tissues were collected and prepared for histology, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses. Blood was drawn from the left ventricle before kill and serum was collected. Serum human CRP levels were quantitatively analyzed using a human CRP Quantikine ELISA kit (R&D System, Minneapolis, MN, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions. Serum human CRP was detected only in CRPtg by human CRP-specific ELISA but was undetectable in Wt mice. The experimental procedures were approved by the Animal Experimental Ethnic Committee at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Real-Time PCR
Total RNA was isolated using the RNeasy kit, according to the manufacturer's instructions (Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA). Real-time reverse transcriptase (RT)–PCR was performed as previously described.22, 23, 24, 25 The primers used in this study for measuring mRNA of inflammatory markers (IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, ICAM-1), fibrosis markers (TGF-β1, collagen I, collagen III, and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)), and the housekeeping gene GAPDH were all described previously.22, 23, 24, 25 The primers used for detecting mouse CRP and FcγRI were mouse CRP: forward: 5′-ATG GAG AAG CTA CTC TGG TGC-3′, reverse: 5′-ACA CAC AGT AAA GGT GTT CAG TG-3′; and mouse FcγRI: forward: 5′-CAC AAA TGC CCT TAG ACC AC-3′, reverse: 5′-ACC CTA GAG TTC CAG GGA TG-3′; Reaction specificity was confirmed by melting curve analysis. The ratio for the mRNA examined was normalized with GAPDH and expressed as the mean±standard errors of the mean (s.e.m.).
Histology and Immunohistochemistry
Change in renal morphology was examined on methyl Carnoy's-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections (3 μm) stained with hematoxylin and eosin or periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Immunostaining was performed on paraffin sections using a microwave-based antigen retrieval technique.26 The antibodies used in this study included rabbit antibodies against phospho-NF-κB/p65 (Cell Signaling, Danvers, MA, USA), phospho-Smad2/3, IL-1β, TNF-α, TGF-β1, ICAM-1 (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA, USA), collagen types I and III (Southern Tech, Birmingham, AL, USA), α-SMA (Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA), MCP-1 (eBioscience, San Diego, CA, USA), CD3+ T cells (SP7) (Abcam, Cambridge, UK), and a rat anti-mouse monoclonal antibody to macrophages (F4/80) (Serotec, Oxford, UK). In addition, a rabbit polyclonal antibody against human, rat, and mouse CRP (Syd Labs, Malden, MA, USA) was used to identify the expressing patterns of CRP in both normal and diseased kidney. An isotype-matched rabbit IgG (Sigma) was used as negative control throughout the study. All slides (except with antibodies against phospho-NF-κB/p65, phospho-Smad2/3, and α-SMA) were counterstained with hematoxylin.
Quantitation of immunostaining was carried out on coded slides. Expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, ICAM-1, CRP, and TGF-β in the entire cortex (a cross-section of the kidney) was determined using the quantitative Image Analysis System (AxioVision 4, Carl Zeiss, Germany) and data were expressed as percentage of positive area as previously described.22, 23, 24 The number of F4/80+, CD3+, phospho-Smad2/3+, and phospho-NF-κB/p65+ cells in the tubulointerstitium was counted in 20 consecutive fields under high-power fields ( × 40) by means of a 0.0625-mm2 graticule fitted in the eyepiece of the microscope and expressed as cells per mm2, positive cells within the glomerulus were counted in 20 consecutive glomeruli and expressed as cells/glomerular cross-section.
Statistical Analyses
The data obtained are expressed as the mean±s.e.m. Statistical analyses were performed using one-way ANOVA followed by Newman–Keuls post test (Prism 4.0 GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA).
RESULTS
CRPtg Mice Exhibit Early Development of Obstructive Nephropathy
Human CRP serum levels were 8.0±0.7 mg/l at the baseline and marginally increased after UUO (10.5±0.5 mg/l and 11.2±0.3 mg/l on day 3 and day 7, respectively).
Kidneys harvested from Wt and CRPtg mice subjected to sham surgery were normal without remarkable changes upon histological examination (Figure 1, i and ii). At day 3 after UUO, Wt mice developed moderate tubulointerstitial injury characterized by focal tubular dilation with flattened epithelium, tubular atrophy, expansion of the interstitial space with moderate fibrosis and inflammation (Figure 1, iii). However, CRPtg mice exhibited more severe tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis than that seen in Wt mice at day 3 UUO kidneys (Figure 1, iv). Interestingly, on day 7 and day 14 after UUO, though tubulointerstitial damage was more prominent, an equal degree of tubulointerstitial damage was observed in both Wt and CRPtg mice (Figure 1, v–viii).
Early Development of Obstructive Nephropathy in CRPtg Mice Is Associated with Enhanced Renal Inflammation and Fibrosis
By immunohistochemistry, there were a few F4/80+ macrophages and CD3+ T cells in sham-operated kidneys from CRPtg and Wt mice (Figure 2ai, aii and bi, bii). By day 3 after UUO, the numbers of F4/80+ macrophages and CD3+ T cell infiltrating the damaged tubulointerstitium were significantly increased in Wt mice, which was doubled in CRPtg mice (Figure 2aiii, aiv, biii, biv, and c). However, at day 7 and day 14 after UUO, despite further increases in F4/80+ macrophages and CD3+ T cells in both CRPtg and Wt mice, the numbers of F4/80+ and CD3+ cells in CRPtg versus Wt kidneys were no longer significantly different (Figure 2av–viii, bv–viii, and c).
We also examined expression of renal proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1β), chemokines (MCP-1), and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1) by immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, compared with sham-operated kidneys, expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, MCP-1, and ICAM-1 were significantly upregulated in both CRPtg and Wt mice by day 3 after UUO, but much more remarkable in the UUO kidneys of CRPtg mice (Figures 3a and bi–iv, bvii, bviii and 4a and bi–iv, bvii, bviii). Again, by day 7 and day 14 after UUO, expression of these inflammatory cytokines between CRPtg and Wt mice was not significantly different (Figures 3a and bv–ix and 4a and bv–viii).
We then determined the fibrotic change in the UUO kidney between CRPtg and Wt mice. Immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR revealed that both Wt and CRPtg mice with sham operation demonstrated a normal α-SMA level (Figure 5, i, ii, vii–ix). By day 3 after UUO, Wt mice had moderate renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis with moderate α-SMA+ cell accumulation, whereas CRPtg mice developed more intense α-SMA+ myofibroblast accumulation with higher mRNA expression (Figure 5, iii–viii). However, by day 7 and day 14 after UUO, although an increase in α-SMA+ myofibroblast accumulation and upregulation of α-SMA mRNA remained prominent in the UUO kidney, no significant difference between CRPtg and Wt mice was noted (Figure 5, v–ix). Likewise, immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR also demonstrated that while low-to-moderate tubulointerstitial fibrosis such as collagen I and III mRNA expression and protein accumulation developed in kidneys from Wt mice at day 3 after UUO, which were greatly increased in the UUO kidneys of CRPtg mice (Figure 6a and bi–iv, bvii, bviii). Similar to α-SMA expression, collagen I and III mRNA and protein expression in the UUO kidney of Wt and CRPtg mice reached comparable levels by day 7 and day 14 (Figure 6a and bv–ix).
Early Development of Renal Fibrosis and Inflammation after UUO Is Associated with Enhanced Endogenous Mouse CRP and FcγRI Expression and Activation of the TGF-β/Smad2/3 and NF-κB/P65 Signaling Pathways in CRPtg Mice
Because CRP mediates neointimal thickening and proinflammatory cytokine production via the FcγRI-dependent mechanism,27, 28 and activation of the TGF-β/Smad2/3 and NF-κB/p65 signaling pathways has a critical role in renal fibrosis and inflammation,29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34 we investigated whether the enhancement of renal inflammation and fibrosis in human CRPtg mice was associated with increased expression endogenous mouse CRP and FcγRI and activation of TGF-β/Smad and NF-κB signaling. As shown by real-time PCR, we found that a significant increase in mouse CRP and its FcγRI expression was found in the UUO kidney of human CRPtg mice, but not in Wt mice at day 3 after UUO (Figure 7a). Interestingly, upregulation of mouse CRP and FcγRI reached comparable levels in both CRPtg and Wt mice by day 7 and day 14 (Figure 7a). By immunohistochemistry, we also found that normal CRPtg mice readily expressed a high level of CRP by all kidney cell types, particularly by tubular epithelial cells and this was maintained in UUO CRP mice over the entire disease course (Figure 7b). In contrast, Wt mice expressed trace CRP in the normal kidney, but significantly increased in UUO nephropathy at day 3, reaching to comparable levels to the CRPtg mice from day 7 onwards (Figure 7b).
We next examined NF-κB and TGF-β/Smad signaling during the progression of UUO kidney. As shown in Figure 8, immunohistochemistry revealed that compared with readily activated NF-κB/p65 in Wt mice, CRPtg mice exhibited a more remarkable activation of NF-κB/p65 in the damaged tubulointerstitium at day 3, but reached to comparable levels with Wt mice over days 7–14 after UUO (as demonstrated by the increased nuclear localization of phosphorylated NF-κB/p65 in renal tissues). Similarly, both real-time PCR and western blot analyses showed that while Wt mice had significant high levels of TGF-β1 expression and Smad2/3 activation from day 3 onwards, CRPtg mice had much higher levels of TGF-β1 and activation of Smad2/3 signaling at day 3, but not at days 7 and 14 when compared with the Wt mice (Figure 9).
DISCUSSION
Emerging evidence shows that serum levels of CRP are increased in diseases associated with inflammation, including CKD and ESRD7, 8, 11, 17, 18, 19. In the present study, we provide strong evidence to support the importance of CRP as a mediator in renal inflammation and fibrosis in CRPtg mice subjected to UUO. We found that mice with higher levels of human CRP developed more rapidly renal inflammation including more severe inflammatory cell infiltration and higher expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), chemokines (MCP-1), and adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), which was associated with enhanced expression of endogenous renal CRP and FcγRI and NF-κB signaling. In addition, increased human CRP also promoted renal fibrosis including α-SMA+ myofibroblast accumulation and collagen I and III expression and deposition, which is also likely as the result of enhanced TGF-β/Smad signaling. These findings are consistent with our recent finding that transgenic expression of human CRP in CRPtg mice exacerbates angiotensin II-induced cardiac fibrosis and inflammation.15
Enhancement of acute renal inflammation appears to be the main deleterious influence of human CRP in obstructive nephropathy in the CRPtg mouse. Consistent with previous findings that CRP is able to induce expression of inflammatory proteins (TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and ICAM-1) in cultured monocytes and endothelial cells,13, 14, 35, 36 we provided evidence that increased human CRP levels promote renal expression of these inflammatory genes as well as macrophage and T-cell infiltration in injured CRPtg kidneys as early as day 3 after UUO. In contrast, the progression of renal inflammation in Wt mice was relatively slow, ultimately achieving the same levels of day 3 CRPtg by day 7. Thus, the findings from this animal study indicate that CRP may act as an early inflammatory mediator to promote renal inflammation.
Enhanced NF-κB signaling may be the signaling mechanism by which CRP promotes renal inflammation in the UUO kidney. It has been shown that CRP is capable of activating NF-κB to induce IL-1β and TNF-α expression in vitro.29, 31, 36 In the present study, we also found that compared with the Wt mice where a maximal activation of NF-κB signaling was reached by day 7 after UUO, the higher level of CRP in CRPtg mice enhanced activation of NF-κB signaling and progressive renal inflammation as early as day 3 after UUO. This finding is consistent with a recent study that CRP enhances NF-κB signaling in angiotensin II-induced cardiac inflammation.15
Similarly, enhanced TGF-β/Smad signaling may be the key mechanism by which overexpression of CRP accelerated renal fibrosis in the UUO kidney. It is well documented that TGF-β signals through its downstream Smad signaling pathway to mediate renal fibrosis.30, 32, 33, 37, 38 Deletion of Smad3 gene or blockade of Smad2/3 activation by overexpressing Smad7 suppresses renal fibrosis in rodent models of obstructive and remnant kidney disease.34, 39, 40, 41, 42 In addition, TGF-β1 is able to regulate CRP expression because CRP response is suppressed in Smad3 knockout mice.41, 42, 43, 44 Our recent study demonstrated that higher levels of human CRP in CRPtg mice further enhanced angiotensin II-induced cardiac TGF-β1 expression and activation of Smad2/3.15 Consistently, this study showed that, at day 3 after UUO, high levels of CRP strongly promoted TGF-β/Smad signaling by elevating renal TGF-β1 expression and activation of Smad2/3 to reach the comparable levels as observed at day 7 of Wt mice after UUO. This rapid and strong activation of TGF-β/Smad signaling in CRPtg may contribute to a rapid and progressive renal fibrosis at day 3 of UUO kidney.
An interesting observation from the present study was that human CRP promoted the early development but not the advanced progression of renal inflammation and fibrosis in CRPtg mice. In contrast to normal Wt mice where renal CRP expression was minimal, normal CRPtg mice had ready expressed higher levels of human CRP protein by all intrinsic kidney cells, particularly by tubular epithelial cells. It is possible that the rapid release of constitutive CRP immediately after UUO may attribute to promote the early renal injury. The findings of enhanced renal CRP, FcγRI, NF-κB, and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways in CRPtg mice on day 3 after UUO may support the notion that CRP acts via its positive amplification loop to promote the acute renal injury. This observation is consistent with the previous findings that CPR acts through its FcγRs, particularly FcγRI, to enhance neointimal thickness in vivo and production of inflammatory cytokines in vitro.27, 28 However, once the renal inflammation and fibrosis are well developed, other proinflammatory cytokines and mediators may likely override the CRP to determine the progression of renal outcomes. Thus, no differences in renal inflammation and fibrosis were detected between CRPtg and Wt mice on day 7 and day 14 of UUO kidneys. These observations may explain the controversial clinical findings that some, but not all studies, show a close link between the elevation of CRP and disease progression.3, 17, 18, 19, 45, 46
The relationship between the inflammatory response and fibrosis is complex and of major importance in the pathogenesis of CKD. Of course, findings from this study did not provide clear evidence for the cause-and-effect relationship between CRP and progressive renal injury and outcomes from this study might have limited relevance to humans with kidney disease, but they do suggest that human CRP is not only a biomarker for progression of kidney disease but might also be a mediator of the disease. It is clear that in the CRPtg mouse, human CRP hastens the pace of renal inflammation and fibrosis following the initial kidney injury. This occurs in association with increased endogenous CRP expression and interaction with its receptors, thereby promoting activation of both TGF-β/Smad signaling and NF-κB signaling pathways. A similar interaction may likely operate in patients with CKD.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by grants from Research Grant Council of Hong Kong (RGC GRF 768207 and 767508, CUHK5/CRF/09 to HYL).
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Expression of human C-reactive protein in a transgenic mouse model of ureteral obstructive nephropathy promotes the development of renal inflammation and fibrosis via mechanisms of enhanced early activation of NF-κβ and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways. Thus, CRP may be a mediator in the early development of kidney disease.
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Li, Z., Chung, A., Zhou, L. et al. C-reactive protein promotes acute renal inflammation and fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstructive nephropathy in mice. Lab Invest 91, 837–851 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2011.42
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2011.42
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