Sublytic C5b-9 triggers glomerular mesangial cell apoptosis in rat Thy-1 nephritis via Gadd45 activation mediated by Egr-1 and p300-dependent ATF3 acetylation

摘要

The apoptosis of glomerular mesangial cells(GMCs)is considered to be an important contributor to the initiation and development of rat Thy-1 nephritis(Thy-1N)and is accompanied by sublytic C5b-9 deposition.However,the mechanism by which sublytic C5b-9 triggers GMC apoptosis has not been elucidated.In this study,functional and histological examinations were performed on GMCs treated with sublytic C5b-9(in vitro)and renal tissues of Thy-1N rats(in vivo).The in vitro studies found that sublytic C5b-9 could trigger GMC apoptosis through upregulating Egr-1,ATF3,and Gadd45 expression.Egr-1-mediated post-transcriptional modulation of ATF3,Egr-1/ATF3-enhanced Gadd45 promoter activity,and p300-mediated ATF3 acetylation were all involved in GMC apoptosis.More importantly,the effective binding elements for Egr-1 and ATF3 to Gadd45β/γpromoters and the ATF3 acetylation site were identified.In vivo,silencing renal p300,Egr-1,ATF3,and Gadd45β/γsignificantly decreased GMC apoptosis,secondary GMC proliferation,and urinary protein secretion in Thy-1N rats.Together,these findings implicate that sublytic C5b-9-induced activation of Egr-1/p300–ATF3/Gadd45 axis plays a critical role in GMC apoptosis in Thy-1N rats.