Frontiers in Physiology (Apr 2021)

Silencing of miR-150-5p Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy by Targeting SIRT1/p53/AMPK Pathway

  • Wenmin Dong,
  • Wenmin Dong,
  • Huiqian Zhang,
  • Huiqian Zhang,
  • Cheng Zhao,
  • Yun Luo,
  • Ying Chen,
  • Ying Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.624989
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common complication of diabetes and an important cause of end-stage renal disease. Increasing evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the development of DN. In a preliminary study, high levels of miR-150-5p were detected in the serum and urine of patients with DN. Consequently, we investigated the effect and mechanism of action of miR-150-5p in DN in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that inhibition of miR-150-5p reversed high glucose-induced podocyte injury and Streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy in mice. Further analysis revealed that miR-150-5p targeted the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), consequently decreasing SIRT1 levels in podocytes. Importantly, we found that the silencing of miR-150-5p promoted the interaction between SIRT1 and p53, causing the suppression of p53 acetylation in podocytes and kidney tissue. This resulted in the stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent autophagy. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the silencing of miR-150-5p played a reno-protective role in DN mice through targeting SIRT1.

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