GLUT1 and prorenin receptor mediate differential regulation of TGF-β and CTGF in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells during high glucose conditions

During diabetes, prorenin is highly produced by the renal collecting ducts. The binding of prorenin to (pro)renin receptor (PRR) on the apical plasma membrane triggers intracellular profibrotic genes, including TGF-β and CTGF. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the stimulation of these pathways remain unclear. Hence, we hypothesize that the glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) favors the PRR-dependent stimulation of TGF-β and CTGF in the distal nephron segments during high glucose (HG) conditions.

To test this hypothesis, primary cultured renal inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) cells were treated with normal glucose (NG, 5 mM) or high glucose (HG, 25 mM) for 48 h in the presence or absence of the GLUT1-specific inhibitor BAY 876 (2 nM). Additionally, IMCD cells were treated with the PRR antagonist PRO20. The expression of TGF-β and CTGF was quantified by immunoblot and qRT-PCR.

HG increased GLUT1 mRNA and protein abundance, while BAY 876 inhibited these responses. HG treatment upregulated PRR, but the concomitant treatment with BAY 876 partially prevented this effect. TGF-β and CTGF expressions were augmented in IMCD cells treated with HG. However, PRO20 prevented the increases in TGF-β but not those of CTGF. GLUT1 inhibition partially prevented the increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) during HG while PRO20 did not. ROS scavenging impaired CTGF upregulation during HG conditions. Additionally, long-term exposure to HG increases lipid peroxidation and reduced cell viability.

The data indicate that glucose transportation via GLUT1 is implicated in the PRR-dependent upregulation of TGF-β while CTGF is mediated mainly via a mechanism depending on ROS formation in renal medullary collecting duct cells.