Alport syndrome: Proteomic analysis identifies early molecular pathway alterations in Col4a3 knock out mice

Aim Alport syndrome (AS) is the second most common hereditary kidney disease caused by mutations in collagen IV genes. Patients present with microhaematuria that progressively leads to proteinuria and end stage renal disease. Currently, no specific treatment exists for AS. Using mass spectrometry based proteomics, we aimed to detect early alterations in molecular pathways implicated in AS before the stage of overt proteinuria, which could be amenable to therapeutic intervention. Methods Kidneys were harvested from male Col4a3 −/− knock out and sex and age‐matched Col4a3 +/+ wild‐type mice at 4 weeks of age. Purified peptides were separated by liquid chromatography and analysed by high resolution mass spectrometry. The Cytoscape bioinformatics tool was used for function enrichment and pathway analysis. PPARα expression levels were evaluated by immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. Results Proteomic analysis identified 415 significantly differentially expressed proteins, which were mainly involved in metabolic and cellular processes, the extracellular matrix, binding and catalytic activity. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed among others, downregulation of the proteasome and PPAR pathways. PPARα protein expression levels were observed to be downregulated in Alport mice, supporting further the results of the discovery proteomics. Conclusion This study provides additional evidence that alterations in proteins which participate in cellular metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis in kidney cells are early events in the development of chronic kidney disease in AS. Of note is the dysregulation of the PPAR pathway, which is amenable to therapeutic intervention and provides a new potential target for therapy in AS.
SUMMARY AT A GLANCE Alterations in proteins which participate in cellular metabolism and mitochondrial homeostasis in kidney cells, are early events in the development of CKD in Alport syndrome. In addition, pathway enrichment analysis revealed among others, dysregulation of the proteasome, protein digestion and absorption pathways as well as PPAR pathway in AS compared to control mice. Targeting the PPAR pathway could be a potential therapeutic approach in AS.