Tongxinluo Protects against Hypertensive Kidney Injury in Spontaneously-Hypertensive Rats by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Activating Forkhead Box O1 Signaling

Hypertension is an independent risk factor for the progression of chronic renal failure, and oxidative stress plays a critical role in hypertensive renal damage. Forkbox O1(FoxO1) signaling protects cells against oxidative stress and may be a useful target for treating oxidative stress-induced hypertension. Tongxinluo is a traditional Chinese medicine with cardioprotective and renoprotective functions. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of Tongxinluo in hypertensive renal damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHRs)and elucidate the possible involvement of oxidative stress and FoxO1 signaling in its molecular mechanisms. SHRs treated with Tongxinluo for 12 weeks showed a reduction in systolic blood pressure. In addition to increasing creatinine clearance, Tongxinluo decreased urinary albumin excretion, oxidative stress injury markers including malondialdehyde and protein carbonyls, and expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase subunits and its activity in SHR kidneys. While decreasing phosphorylation of FoxO1, Tongxinluo also inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 and p38 and enhanced manganese superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in SHR kidneys. Furthermore, histology revealed attenuation of glomerulosclerosis and renal podocyte injury, while Tongxinluo decreased the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, extracellular matrixprotein, transforming growth factor β1 and small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3,and improved tubulointerstitial fibrosis in SHR kidneys. Finally, Tongxinluo inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration as well as expression of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. In conclusion, Tongxinluo protected SHRs against hypertension-induced renal injury by exerting antioxidant, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, the underlying mechanisms of these effects may involve inhibition of oxidative stress and functional activation of FoxO1 signaling.     

FoxO1 as a double-edged sword in the pancreas: analysis of pancreas- and β-cell-specific FoxO1 knockout mice

Diabetes is characterized by an absolute or relative deficiency of pancreatic β-cells. New strategies to accelerate β-cell neogenesis or maintain existing β-cells are desired for future therapies against diabetes. We previously reported that forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) inhibits β-cell growth through a Pdx1-mediated mechanism. However, we also reported that FoxO1 protects against β-cell failure via the induction of NeuroD and MafA. Here, we investigate the physiological roles of FoxO1 in the pancreas by generating the mice with deletion of FoxO1 in the domains of the Pdx1 promoter (P-FoxO1-KO) or the insulin 2 promoter (β-FoxO1-KO) and analyzing the metabolic parameters and pancreatic morphology under two different conditions of increased metabolic demand: high-fat high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) and db/db background. P-FoxO1-KO, but not β-FoxO1-KO, showed improved glucose tolerance with HFHSD. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that P-FoxO1-KO had increased β-cell mass due to increased islet number rather than islet size, indicating accelerated β-cell neogenesis. Furthermore, insulin-positive pancreatic duct cells were increased in P-FoxO1-KO but not β-FoxO1-KO. In contrast, db/db mice crossed with P-FoxO1-KO or β-FoxO1-KO showed more severe glucose intolerance than control db/db mice due to decreased glucose-responsive insulin secretion. Electron microscope analysis revealed fewer insulin granules in FoxO1 knockout db/db mice. We conclude that FoxO1 functions as a double-edged sword in the pancreas; FoxO1 essentially inhibits β-cell neogenesis from pancreatic duct cells but is required for the maintenance of insulin secretion under metabolic stress.     

Modulation of FoxO1 phosphorylation/acetylation by baicalin during aging

Baicalin is a flavonoid known to modify various redox-related biological activities. Included is its ability to suppress reactive species (RS) producing activity and modulate nuclear factor-κB through cellular redox regulation with enhanced thiol ability. FoxO regulates various genes that are known to be involved in cellular metabolism related to cell death and the oxidative stress response. One such case is the prevention of FoxO1 expression by activated insulin-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, which leads to increased oxidative stress and aging processes. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the molecular modulation of antioxidant baicalin on the insulin-induced FoxO1 inactivation. We used HEK293T cultured cells and kidney tissue isolated from 24-month-old rats treated with baicalin at a dose of 10 or 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days. We found that baicalin enhanced catalase and suppressed RS production in cell system and in isolated kidney tissue in contrast to the nontreated aged rats. Results also showed activation of insulin signaling (PI3K/Akt), FoxO1 phosphorylation/acetylation and the down-regulation of catalase and manganese superoxide dismutase, both of which are FoxO1-targeting genes. Furthermore, baicalin-treated rats showed a decreased FoxO1 phosphorylation via PI3K/Akt cascade and FoxO1 acetylation by the cAMP-response element-binding protein binding protein (CBP). These results strongly suggest that treatment with baicalin influenced phosphorylation/acetylation of FoxO1 by up-regulating PI3K/Akt signaling through insulin in aged rats. Our results further reveal that baicalin regulated FoxO1 phosphorylation via PI3K/Akt by insulin and FoxO1 acetylation by the interaction of CBP and SIRT1, leading to changes in catalase gene expression during aging.