Inhibition of the H3K4 methyltransferase SET7/9 ameliorates peritoneal fibrosis

PLoS One. 2018 May 3;13(5):e0196844. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196844. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is a major mediator of peritoneal fibrosis and reportedly affects expression of the H3K4 methyltransferase, SET7/9. SET7/9-induced H3K4 mono-methylation (H3K4me1) critically activates transcription of fibrosis-related genes. In this study, we examined the effect of SET7/9 inhibition on peritoneal fibrosis in mice and in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). We also examined SET7/9 expression in nonadherent cells isolated from the effluent of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Murine peritoneal fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of methylglyoxal (MGO) into male C57/BL6 mice over 21 days. Sinefungin, a SET7/9 inhibitor, was administered subcutaneously just before MGO injection (10 mg/kg). SET7/9 expression was elevated in both MGO-injected mice and nonadherent cells isolated from the effluent of PD patients. SET7/9 expression was positively correlated with dialysate/plasma ratio of creatinine in PD patients. Sinefungin was shown immunohistochemically to suppress expression of mesenchymal cells and collagen deposition, accompanied by decreased H3K4me1 levels. Peritoneal equilibration tests showed that sinefungin attenuated the urea nitrogen transport rate from plasma and the glucose absorption rate from the dialysate. In vitro, sinefungin suppressed TGF-β1-induced expression of fibrotic markers and inhibited H3K4me1. These findings suggest that inhibiting the H3K4 methyltransferase SET7/9 ameliorates peritoneal fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine / pharmacology
  • Adenosine / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Collagen Type I / biosynthesis
  • Collagen Type I / genetics
  • Dialysis Solutions / pharmacokinetics
  • Epithelium
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Glucose / pharmacokinetics
  • Histone Code / drug effects
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methylation / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Nitrogen / pharmacokinetics
  • Omentum / cytology
  • Peritoneal Dialysis / adverse effects
  • Peritoneal Fibrosis / chemically induced
  • Peritoneal Fibrosis / etiology
  • Peritoneal Fibrosis / prevention & control*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Pyruvaldehyde / toxicity
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / physiology

Substances

  • COL1A2 protein, human
  • Collagen Type I
  • Dialysis Solutions
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Pyruvaldehyde
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase
  • SETD7 protein, human
  • Glucose
  • Adenosine
  • Nitrogen
  • sinefungin

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Hiroshima University Grant-in-Aid for Exploratory Research and the grant from Ryokufukai. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.