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Introduction. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide, and diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most significant complication of DM, which is highly prevalent and difficult to cure. This research project aims to investigate the role and mechanism of Nucleoporin 160kDa (NUP160)-regulated autophagy in the pathogenesis of DN. Methods. NUP160 levels in diabetic and non-diabetic kidney tissues were measured by Western blot, and the connection between NUP160 and renal function of DN patients was analyzed. The podocytes were divided into four groups, namely the standard group (culture medium: standard glucose solution), high glucose (HG) group (HG solution), HG+si-NUP160 group (HG solution+si-NUP160 transfection) and HG+si-NC group (HG solution+si-NUP 160 transfection) for the determination of apoptosis by flow cytometry and measurements of LC3B, Prostacyclin-62 (P62), Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (STAT3) by Western blot. Results. In DN patients, NUP160 decreased in podocytes and was inversely proportional to Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), Serum creatinine (Scr) and β2-Microglobulin (β2-MG) (P < .05). Compared with a standard group, the apoptosis rate, P62 level, and the ratios of phosphorylation-JAK2 (p-JAK2)/JAK2, phosphorylation-STAT3 (p-STAT3)/STAT3, and LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ elevated in the other three groups (P < .05). Apoptosis rate and P62 level, p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 ratios increased, and LC3B-Ⅱ/LC3B-Ⅰ ratio decreased in the HG+si-NUP160 group (P < .05), while those in HG+si-NC group showed no evident changes, compared with HG group (P > .05). Conclusion. NUP160 is downregulated in DN and can affect cellular autophagy through the activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aims to explore the effects of the exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H2S)- mediated scavenger receptor A (SR-A) signaling pathway on renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) by regulating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced autophagy in rats. Methods: A total of 48 normal Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and SR-A knockout rats were selected and divided into six groups (n = 8): wild-type (WT) + sham, WT + ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), WT + I/R + NaHS, SR-A-/- + sham, SR-A-/- + I/R and SR-A-/- + I/R + NaHS. The concentrations of urinary protein, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR), malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2S in renal tissue were detected. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6, TGF-β, SR-A, LC3I, LC3II, P62, PERK, ATF6 and IRE1 pathway-related genes. A TUNEL assay was used to detect cell apoptosis. Electron microscopy was applied to observe the structure of renal autophagosomes. Results: Compared with the WT + sham group, in the rates of the WT + I/R group, the urine volume, urinary protein, BUN, SCR and MDA concentrations, the mRNA and protein expression of IL-6, TGF-β, LC3II/I, and ER stress pathway-related genes, the cell apoptosis index, and the number of autophagosomes were significantly increased 24 h after I/R, while P62 and SR-A protein expression and SOD and H2S concentrations were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). The levels of renal injury, autophagy and ER stress pathway-related genes were decreased in the WT + I/R + NaHS group but were increased in the SR-A-/- + I/R group relative to the WT + I/R group. No significant differences were observed in the urine volume; the concentrations of urinary protein, BUN, SCR and MDA; the SOD activity; the mRNA and protein expression of IL-6, TGF-β, SR-A, GRP78, SR-A, GPR94, ATF4, IRE1, XBP1, ATF6, and eIF2α; the cell apoptosis index; or the number of autophagosomes in rats of the SR-A-/- + I/R and SR-A-/- + I/R + NaHS groups (all P > 0.05). Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the exogenous H2S-mediated SR-A signaling pathway reduces renal IRI injury by up-regulating ER stress-induced autophagy in rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]