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PUFAs supplementation affects the renal expression of pannexin 1 and connexins in diabetic kidney of rats

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Abstract

In diabetic nephropathy (DN), intercellular communication is disrupted. Connexins (Cx) have a crucial role in that process. Dietary ratios and supplementation with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) can alleviate diabetic complications and cause alterations in Cx levels. Although pannexins (Panx) share similarities with members of the Cx family, their function in diabetic nephropathy has still not been fully determined. We studied the influence of PUFA supplementation on the immunoexpression of Px1 and Cx family members in diabetic kidneys of rats. Four groups of rats in experimental DM1 model were supplemented with different dietary n-6/n-3 ratios; ≈7 in control (C) and diabetic groups (STZ), ≈ 60 in the STZ + N6 group and ≈ 1 (containing 16% EPA and 19% DHA) in the STZ + N3 group. Immunoexpression of Cx40, Cx43, Cx45 and Panx1 was evaluated in the renal tissue of diabetic rats using immunohistochemistry. Diabetes significantly decreased the protein expression of Cx40 and Cx43 and increased Panx1 protein expression in the renal cortex (p < 0.05–p < 0.01). There was a significant impact of diet on Cx and Panx1 immunoexpression. Dietary supplementation with a high n-6/n-3 ratio downregulated the protein expression of Cx45 and Panx1 in diabetic rats (p < 0.05–p < 0.01), while Cx43 immunoexpression was increased in diabetic rats fed with high and low n-6/n-3 ratios (p < 0.01–p < 0.001). Hyperglycaemic conditions in DN interfere with cell-to-cell communication and disturb the connection between cells and their immediate environment due to variations in connexin and pannexin immunoexpression. These variations can be regulated by PUFA dietary intake, suggesting their beneficial effect and possible therapeutic option.

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Acknowledgements

This work has been supported in part by the Croatian Science Foundation under the project (IP-2014-09-8992; T. Mašek) and by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia support (K. Vukojević, N. Filipović). Authors thank Mirela Lozić for the language correction of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital Centre Split, Spinčićeva 1, 21000, Split, Croatia

    Martina Luetić

  2. Laboratory for Neurocardiology, Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, 21000, Split, Croatia

    Marija Vitlov Uljević, Benjamin Benzon, Katarina Vukojević & Natalija Filipović

  3. Department of Animal Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Zagreb Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia

    Tomislav Mašek

  4. Department of Neuroscience, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, 21000, Split, Croatia

    Benjamin Benzon

  5. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Laboratory for Early Human Development, University of Split School of Medicine, Šoltanska 2, 21000, Split, Croatia

    Katarina Vukojević

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  1. Martina Luetić
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  2. Marija Vitlov Uljević
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  3. Tomislav Mašek
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Correspondence to Natalija Filipović.

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Luetić, M., Vitlov Uljević, M., Mašek, T. et al. PUFAs supplementation affects the renal expression of pannexin 1 and connexins in diabetic kidney of rats. Histochem Cell Biol 153, 165–175 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00418-019-01838-9

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