Inhibition of SIRT2 Alleviates Fibroblast Activation and Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis via MDM2

Renal tubular epithelial cells and fibroblasts are the main sources of myofibroblasts, and these cells produce the extracellular matrix during tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF). Histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors exert an antifibrogenic effect in the skin, liver and lung. Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), which is a class III HDAC, is an important member of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases. The current study evaluated the role of SIRT2 in renal TIF.

Renal tubular epithelial cells and fibroblasts are the main sources of myofibroblasts, and these cells produce the extracellular matrix during tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF). Histone deacetylases (HDAC) inhibitors exert an antifibrogenic effect in the skin, liver and lung. Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2), which is a class III HDAC, is an important member of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases. The current study evaluated the role of SIRT2 in renal TIF.

Our results suggest that SIRT2 participates in the activation of fibroblasts and TIF, which is mediated via regulation of the MDM2 pathway, and the downregulation of SIRT2 may be a therapeutic strategy for renal fibrosis.

Immunohistochemical staining and Western blot were performed to evaluate SIRT2 expression in TIF patients and unilateral urethral obstruction (UUO) mice. Western blot was used to assess the protein levels of SIRT2, α-SMA, collagen III, fibronectin, and MDM2 in tubular epithelial cells and fibroblasts. The specific inhibitor AGK2 was used to inhibit SIRT2 activity, and targeted siRNA was used to suppress SIRT2 expression.

SIRT2 expression increased in the tubulointerstitium of TIF patients and UUO mice. SIRT2 inhibition ameliorated TIF in UUO mice. SIRT2 expression in tubular cells was unchanged after exposure to TGF-β1. The SIRT2-specifc inhibitor AGK2 did not attenuate TGF-β1-induced tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition. However, SIRT2 was upregulated in fibroblasts, and fibroblasts were activated after TGF-β1 treatment. Genetic knockdown and chemical inhibition of SIRT2 attenuated TGF-β1-induced fibroblast activation. We also explored the downstream signaling of SIRT2 during fibroblast activation. Genetic knockdown and chemical inhibition of SIRT2 suppressed TGF-β1-induced increase in MDM2 expression, and inhibition of the MDM2-p53 interaction using Nutlin-3 did not suppress SIRT2 upregulation.