TRPC6 Knockout Alleviates Renal Fibrosis through PI3K/AKT/GSK3B Pathway

Renal fibrosis is the ultimate pathway of various forms of acute and chronic kidney damage. Notably, the knockout of transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) has shown promise in alleviating renal fibrosis. However, the regulatory impact of TRPC6 on renal fibrosis remains unclear.

In vivo, TRPC6 knockout (TRPC6^-/-) mice and age-matched 129 SvEv (WT) mice underwent unilateral renal ischemia-reperfusion (uIR) injury surgery on the left renal pedicle or sham operation. Kidneys and serum were collected on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 after euthanasia. In vitro, primary tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) were isolated from TRPC6^-/- and WT mice, followed by treatment with transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) for 72 h. The anti-fibrotic effect of TRPC6^-/- and the underlying mechanisms were assessed through hematoxylin-eosin staining, Masson staining, immunostaining, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting.

Increased TRPC6 expression was observed in uIR mice and PTECs treated with TGFβ1. TRPC6^-/- alleviated renal fibrosis by reducing the expression of fibrotic markers (Col-1, α-SMA, and vimentin), as well as decreasing the apoptosis and inflammation of PTECs during fibrotic progression both in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, we found that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) signaling pathway, a pivotal player in renal fibrosis, was down-regulated following TRPC6 deletion.

These results suggest that the ablation of TRPC6 may mitigate renal fibrosis by inhibiting the apoptosis and inflammation of PTECs through down-regulation of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β pathway. Targeting TRPC6 could be a novel therapeutic strategy for preventing chronic kidney disease.