The role of Testis-Specific Protein Y-encoded-Like 2 in kidney injury

Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Recent findings suggest that Testis-Specific Protein Y-encoded-Like 2 (TSPYL2) plays a fibrogenic role in diabetes-associated renal injury. However, the role of TSPYL2 in IRI-induced kidney damage is not entirely clear. In this study, we found that the expression of TSPYL2 was upregulated in a mouse model of AKI and in the hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) cell model. Knockdown of TSPYL2 attenuated kidney injury after IRI. More specifically, the knockdown of TSPYL2 or aminocarboxymuconate-semialdehyde decarboxylase (ACMSD) alleviated renal IRI-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo. Further investigation showed that TSPYL2 regulated SREBP-2 acetylation by inhibiting SIRT1 and promoting p300 activity, thereby promoting the transcriptional activity of ACMSD. In conclusion, TSPYL2 was identified as a pivotal regulator of IRI-induced kidney damage by activating ACMSD, which may lead to NAD+ content and the damaging response in the kidney.