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Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 promotes Ochratoxin A-induced renal cytotoxicity

Rui Liang1, Xiao Li Shen2, Boyang Zhang1

  • 1Laboratory of food safety and molecular biology, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, P.R. China.

Scientific Reports
|January 29, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) promotes Ochratoxin A (OTA) kidney damage by increasing oxidative stress and apoptosis. Reducing ASK1 levels protects kidney cells from OTA toxicity.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Ochratoxin A (OTA) causes kidney damage through oxidative stress and apoptosis.
  • Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a key regulator of oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of ASK1 in OTA-induced renal cytotoxicity.
  • To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of ASK1 in OTA toxicity using a proteomics approach.

Main Methods:

  • RNA interference (RNAi) to knockdown ASK1 in HEK293 cells.
  • iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics to analyze protein expression changes.
  • Assessment of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) loss.

Main Results:

  • ASK1 knockdown reduced OTA-induced ROS generation and Δψm loss, protecting cells from apoptosis.
  • 33 and 24 differentially expressed proteins were identified in control and ASK1-knockdown cells, respectively.
  • ASK1 was found to be involved in inhibiting mRNA splicing, nucleotide metabolism, cell cycle, DNA repair, and activating lipid metabolism.

Conclusions:

  • ASK1 plays a critical role in promoting OTA-induced renal cytotoxicity.
  • Targeting ASK1 may offer a protective strategy against OTA nephrotoxicity.

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