Abstract: SA-PO230
Integrative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals TEKT2 and PIAS2 Involvement in Diabetic Nephropathy
Session Information
- Diabetic Kidney Disease: Basic - II
November 05, 2022 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Orange County Convention Center‚ West Building
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Diabetic Kidney Disease
- 601 Diabetic Kidney Disease: Basic
Authors
- Li, Yuanqing, Nephrology Division, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Lin, Hongchun, Nephrology Division, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Shu, Shuangshuang, Nephrology Division, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Sun, Yuxiang, Nephrology Division, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Lai, Weiyan, Nephrology Division, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Hu, Zhaoyong, Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
- Peng, Hui, Nephrology Division, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
Background
Cell heterogeneity has impeded the accurate interpretation of the bulk transcriptome data from patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). We performed an analysis by integrating bulk and single-cell transcriptome datasets to uncover novel mechanisms leading to DN, especially in the podocytes.
Methods
Microdissected glomeruli and tubules transcriptome datasets were selected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Then the consistency between datasets was evaluated. The analysis of bulk dataset and single-nucleus RNA dataset was integrated to reveal the cell type-specific responses to DN. The candidate genes were validated in kidney tissues from DN patients and diabetic mice.
Results
We compared 4 glomerular and 4 tubular datasets and found considerable discrepancies among datasets regarding the deferentially expressed genes (DEGs), involved signaling pathways, and the hallmark enrichment profiles. Deconvolution of the bulk data revealed that the variations in cell-type proportion contributed greatly to this discrepancy. Integrative analysis uncovered that the dysregulation of spermatogenesis-related genes, including TEKT2 and PIAS2 was involved in the development of DN. Importantly, the mRNA level of TEKT2 was negatively correlated with the mRNA levels of NPHS1 (r = -0.66, p < 0.0001) and NPHS2 (r = -0.85, p < 0.0001) in human diabetic glomeruli. Immunostaining confirmed that the expression of TEKT2 and PIAS2 were up-regulated in podocytes of DN patients and diabetic mice. Knocking down TEKT2 resisted high glucose-induced cytoskeletal remodeling and down-regulation of NPHS1 in cultured podocyte.
Conclusion
The integrative strategy can help us to efficiently use the publicly available transcriptomics resources. Using this approach and combining with classical research methods, we identified TEKT2 and PIAS2, two spermatogenesis-related genes involved in the pathogenesis of DN. Furthermore, TEKT2 is involved in this pathogenesis by regulating the podocyte cytoskeleton.
Funding
- Government Support – Non-U.S.