Podocyte foot processes and their interposed slit diaphragms form the final barrier to urinary protein loss which explains the typical association of podocyte injury with proteinuria. The degree of podocyte loss correlated with disease severity in several kidney disorders including diabetic nephropathy and IgA nephropathy Our recently published data has identified dendrin as a novel slit diaphragm component that relocates to the podocyte nucleus to enhance apoptosis under the influence of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). We have found that dendrin relocates to the nucleus in a mouse model of focal segmental glomeruloclerosis where TGF-beta levels are increased. In this application we have proposed two specific aims to study the regulation of podocyte survival by dendrin.
In Specific Aim 1 we will elucidate the molecular mechanism regulating the relocation of dendrin from the slit diaphragm to the podocyte nucleus. We will utilize confocal microscopy to test whether loss of alpha-actinin-4 increases the nuclear expression of dendrin. We will test whether TGF-beta induces the phosphroylation of dendrin by an in vivo phorphorylation assay. Then we will induce point mutations of putative binding sites to test whether 14-3-3 binds to dendrin in a phosphorylation-dependent manner to promote nuclear import.
In Specific Aim 2 we will determine how dendrin enhances TGF-beta induced podocyte apoptosis. The effect of overexpressing Yes associated Protein and Nedd4-2 on TGF-beta induced apoptosis will be measured by an Annexin binding assay and FACS analysis. Subsequently we will cross dendrin null mice with CD2AP null and TGF-beta transgenic to determine whether the loss of dendrin ameliorates the severity of glomerulosclerosis in these two mouse models where TGF-beta expression is increased. Relevance: The proposed studies seek to determine the mechanism whereby our protein of interest, dendrin, enhances injury and programmed death of kidney visceral epithelial cells or podocytes. Injury to these cells is an important mechanism in the progression of proteinuric kidney diseases.

Public Health Relevance

This work seeks to elucidate the details of an important mechanism leading to injury and death of critically important cells (podocytes) lining the urinary space. These findings could have an impact on the development of novel therapeutic agents for kidney diseases such as diabetic nephropathy, focal segmental glomeruloclerosis and IgA nephropathy, all disorders associated with a reduction in podocyte number.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Clinical Investigator Award (CIA) (K08)
Project #
5K08DK081617-04
Application #
8204624
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Rankin, Tracy L
Project Start
2009-09-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-06-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$149,958
Indirect Cost
Name
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
078861598
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10029
Schwartzman, Monica; Reginensi, Antoine; Wong, Jenny S et al. (2016) Podocyte-Specific Deletion of Yes-Associated Protein Causes FSGS and Progressive Renal Failure. J Am Soc Nephrol 27:216-26
Weins, Astrid; Wong, Jenny S; Basgen, John M et al. (2015) Dendrin ablation prolongs life span by delaying kidney failure. Am J Pathol 185:2143-57
Campbell, Kirk N; Wong, Jenny S; Gupta, Ritu et al. (2013) Yes-associated protein (YAP) promotes cell survival by inhibiting proapoptotic dendrin signaling. J Biol Chem 288:17057-62
Campbell, Kirk N; Raij, Leopoldo; Mundel, Peter (2011) Role of angiotensin II in the development of nephropathy and podocytopathy of diabetes. Curr Diabetes Rev 7:3-7
Sieber, Jonas; Lindenmeyer, Maja Tamara; Kampe, Kapil et al. (2010) Regulation of podocyte survival and endoplasmic reticulum stress by fatty acids. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 299:F821-9