Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 17, 2025

Mechanism of Kemeng Fang's Inhibition of Podocyte Apoptosis in Rats with Membranous Nephropathy through the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
Published on: August 23, 2024
1-Hydroxypyrene mediates renal fibrosis through aryl hydrocarbon receptor signalling pathway
Hua Miao1, Xia-Qing Wu1, Yan-Ni Wang1
1Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
Background And Purpose:
In chronic kidney disease (CKD), patients inevitably reach end-stage renal disease and require renal transplant. Evidence suggests that CKD is associated with metabolite disorders. However, the molecular pathways targeted by metabolites remain enigmatic. Here, we describe roles of 1-hydroxypyrene in mediating renal fibrosis.
Experimental Approach:
We analysed 5406 urine and serum samples from patients with Stage 1-5 CKD using metabolomics, and 1-hydroxypyrene was identified and validated using longitudinal and drug intervention cohorts as well as 5/6 nephrectomised and adenine-induced rats.
Key Results:
We identified correlations between the urine and serum levels of 1-hydroxypyrene and the estimated GFR in patients with CKD onset and progression. Moreover, increased 1-hydroxypyrene levels in serum and kidney tissues correlated with decreased renal function in two rat models. Up-regulated mRNA expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its target genes, including CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1, were observed in patients and rats with progressive CKD. Further we showed up-regulated mRNA expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its three target genes, plus up-regulated nuclear aryl hydrocarbon receptor protein levels in mice and HK-2 cells treated with 1-hydroxypyrene, which caused accumulation of extracellular matrix components. Treatment with aryl hydrocarbon receptor short hairpin RNA or flavonoids inhibited mRNA expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and its target genes in 1-hydroxypyrene-induced HK-2 cells and mice.
Conclusion And Implications:
Metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene was demonstrated to mediate renal fibrosis through activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor signalling pathway. Targeting aryl hydrocarbon receptor may be an alternative therapeutic strategy for CKD progression.
Insights
The metabolite 1-hydroxypyrene drives kidney fibrosis by activating the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. Targeting this pathway offers a potential therapeutic strategy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Metabolomics
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is linked to metabolite disorders, but the underlying molecular pathways are not fully understood.
- 1-hydroxypyrene is identified as a metabolite potentially involved in CKD pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of 1-hydroxypyrene in mediating renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which 1-hydroxypyrene affects kidney function and fibrosis.
Main Methods:
- Metabolomic analysis of 5406 urine and serum samples from CKD patients (Stage 1-5).
- Validation in longitudinal, drug intervention, and animal (5/6 nephrectomized and adenine-induced rats) cohorts.
- Analysis of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its target gene expression in patient and animal samples, and cell/tissue cultures.
Main Results:
- 1-hydroxypyrene levels correlated with estimated GFR and renal function decline in CKD patients and rat models.
- Increased expression of AhR and its target genes (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1) observed in progressive CKD.
- 1-hydroxypyrene treatment upregulated AhR signaling, leading to extracellular matrix accumulation and fibrosis; inhibition of AhR pathway ameliorated these effects.
Conclusions:
- 1-hydroxypyrene mediates renal fibrosis via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway activation.
- Targeting the AhR pathway presents a potential therapeutic strategy for managing CKD progression.
More Related Videos
10:15Identification of the Source of Secreted Proteins in the Kidney by Brefeldin A Injection
Published on: November 10, 2021
08:15Author Spotlight: Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Decipher the Action of Jiawei Shengjiang San Against Diabetic Kidney Disease
Published on: May 10, 2024
Related Concept Videos
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The...
The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Transducer Mechanism: Nuclear Receptors
About 48 different soluble family members of nuclear receptors are identified that can be divided into two main classes:
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Endothelin Receptor Antagonists
ETs are synthesized through a complex sequence of enzymatic steps, primarily involving an enzyme referred to as endothelin-converting enzyme...