The impact of p53 on aristolochic acid I-induced gene expression in vivo

Exposure to aristolochic acid (AA) is linked to kidney disease and urothelial cancer in humans. The major carcinogenic component of the AA plant extract is aristolochic acid I (AAI). The transcription factor p53 acts as a tumour suppressor and is frequently mutated in AA-induced tumours. Using a mouse model, we previously showed that Trp53 genotype impacts on AAI-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo (i.e. p53 protects from AAI-induced renal proximal tubular injury), but the underlying mechanism(s) involved remain to be further explored. In the present study, we investigated the impact of p53 on AAI-induced gene expression in vivo by treating Trp53(+/+), Trp53(+/-) and Trp53(-/-) mice with 3.5 mg/kg body weight (bw) AAI daily for 6 days. The Clariom™ S Assay microarray was used to elucidate gene expression profiles in mouse kidneys after AAI treatment in order to identify potential mechanisms by which AAI drives renal injury in Trp53(-/-) kidneys. Principle component analysis and hierarchical clustering in Qlucore Omics Explorer showed that gene expression in AAI-exposed Trp53(+/+), Trp53(+/-) and Trp53(-/-) kidneys is treatment-dependent. However, gene expression profiles did not segregate in a clear-cut manner according to Trp53 genotype, hence further investigations were performed by pathway analysis with MetaCore™. Several pathways, such as those related to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, transcription of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 targets, renal injury and secretion of xenobiotics were significantly altered to varying degrees for AAI-exposed kidneys. The top ten up-regulated genes included cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1a (Cdkn1a), a mediator of cell cycle arrest; and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (Ngal), which has been shown to play a role in nephritis by promoting inflammation and apoptosis. Members of the solute carrier (Slc) family (i.e. Slc22a2, Slc22a6, Slc22a7, Slc22a8) were amongst the top ten down-regulated genes. Pathway analysis also identified genes that are uniquely affected by AAI treatment in Trp53(+/+), Trp53(+/-) and Trp53(-/-) kidneys. Apoptotic pathways were modulated in Trp53(+/+) kidneys; whereas oncogenic and pro-survival pathways were significantly altered for Trp53(+/-) and Trp53(-/-) kidneys, respectively. Microarray gene expression analysis identified significant toxicogenomic responses to AAI that give novel insights into its mechanism of nephrotoxicity. Alterations of biological processes by AAI in Trp53(+/+), Trp53(+/-) and Trp53(-/-) kidneys could explain the mechanisms by which p53 protects from or p53 loss drives AAI-induced renal injury in vivo.

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Sborchia M, De Prez EG, Antoine MH, Bienfait L, Indra R, Valbuena G, Phillips DH, Nortier JL, Stiborová M, Keun HC, Arlt VM