Aims: Changes in cell-to-cell communication have been linked to several secondary complications of diabetes, including diabetic nephropathy. This study examines a role for glucose-evoked changes in the beta1 isoform of the pro-fibrotic cytokine transforming growth factor (TGFβ1), on connexin expression, gap-junction mediated intercellular communication and hemi-channel mediated ATP release from epithelial cells of the proximal tubule.
Methods: Connexin-26 and connexin-43 expression was assessed by immunoblot analysis in human kidney (HK2) tubular epithelial cells treated with TGFβ1 (2-10ng/mL) for 48hrs. Whole cell paired-patch electrophysiology assessed junctional conductance between TGFβ1 treated HK2 cells. Hemi-channel opening was determined by carboxyfluorescein uptake, whilst bio-sensing was used to determine real-time ATP release.
Results: Immunoblotting confirmed that TGFβ1 down-regulates connexin-26 to 72.7±13.3%, 71.6±4.8%, and 58.3±5.7% of control and connexin-43 to 61.2±10.4%, 49.5±6.1%, and 48.1±3.8% at 2, 4 and 10 ng/mL respectively. TGFβ1 significantly decreased junctional conductance at 48hrs (1.15±0.9nS compared to 4.5±1.3nS in control cells n=5; P<0.05), whilst carboxyfluorescein uptake increased 346±33% in TGFβ1-treated (10ng/mL) cells. A response inhibited by the hemi-channel blocker carbenoxolone (200µM, 30mins). Bio-sensing confirmed that increased channel opening was paralleled by elevated ATP release following 48hr TGFβ1 treatment (1.99±0.47µM compared to a control 0.29± 0.06µM, P<0.01, n=3).
Conclusions: The current study suggests that acute 48hr application of the pro-fibrotic cytokine reduces connexin-mediated intercellular communication in proximal tubular epithelial cells in favour of hemi-channel mediated ATP release. The rise in intercellular ATP may contribute to tubular fibrosis in the diabetic kidney.
Acknowledgement: This work is supported by Diabetes UK (BDA:11/0004215, BDA:16/0005427
