The effect of mycophenolate mofetil on podocytes in nephrotoxic serum nephritis

A. Hackl; E. Nüsken; J. Voggel; S. E. D. Abo Zed; J. Binz-Lotter; D. Unnersjö-Jess; C. Müller; G. Fink; K. Bohl; E. Wiesner; P. Diefenhardt; C. Dafinger; H. Chen; M. Wohlfarth; R.-U. Müller; M. J. Hackl; B. Schermer; K.-D. Nüsken; L. T. Weber

doi:10.1038/s41598-023-41222-1

Scientific Reports (Aug 2023)

The effect of mycophenolate mofetil on podocytes in nephrotoxic serum nephritis

A. Hackl,
E. Nüsken,
J. Voggel,
S. E. D. Abo Zed,
J. Binz-Lotter,
D. Unnersjö-Jess,
C. Müller,
G. Fink,
K. Bohl,
E. Wiesner,
P. Diefenhardt,
C. Dafinger,
H. Chen,
M. Wohlfarth,
R.-U. Müller,
M. J. Hackl,
B. Schermer,
K.-D. Nüsken,
L. T. Weber

Affiliations

A. Hackl: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
E. Nüsken: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
J. Voggel: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
S. E. D. Abo Zed: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
J. Binz-Lotter: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
D. Unnersjö-Jess: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
C. Müller: Department of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Pharmacology at the Laboratory Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
G. Fink: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
K. Bohl: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
E. Wiesner: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
P. Diefenhardt: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
C. Dafinger: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
H. Chen: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
M. Wohlfarth: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
R.-U. Müller: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
M. J. Hackl: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
B. Schermer: CECAD, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
K.-D. Nüsken: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne
L. T. Weber: Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41222-1
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is applied in proteinuric kidney diseases, but the exact mechanism of its effect on podocytes is still unknown. Our previous in vitro experiments suggested that MMF can ameliorate podocyte damage via restoration of the Ca2+-actin cytoskeleton axis. The goal of this study was to characterize podocyte biology during MMF treatment in nephrotoxic serum (NTS) nephritis (NTN). NTN was induced in three-week old wild-type mice. On day 3, half of the mice were treated with MMF (100 mg/kgBW/d p.o.) for one week. On day 10, we performed proteomic analysis of glomeruli as well as super-resolution imaging of the slit diaphragm. For multiphoton imaging of Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), the experimental design was repeated in mice expressing podocyte-specific Ca2+ sensor. MMF ameliorated the proteinuria and crescent formation induced by NTS. We identified significant changes in the abundance of proteins involved in Ca2+ signaling and actin cytoskeleton regulation, which was further confirmed by direct [Ca2+]i imaging in podocytes showing decreased Ca2+ levels after MMF treatment. This was associated with a tendency to restoration of podocyte foot process structure. Here, we provide evidence that MPA has a substantial direct effect on podocytes. MMF contributes to improvement of [Ca2+]i and amelioration of the disorganized actin cytoskeleton in podocytes. These data extend the knowledge of direct effects of immunosuppressants on podocytes that may contribute to a more effective treatment of proteinuric glomerulopathies with the least possible side effects.

Published in Scientific Reports

ISSN: 2045-2322 (Online)
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Medicine; Science
Website: https://www.nature.com/srep/

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