Cystathionine β-synthase and cystathionine γ-lyase double gene transfer ameliorate homocysteine-mediated mesangial inflammation through hydrogen sulfide generation

Sen U, Givvimani S, Abe OA, Lederer ED, Tyagi SC. Cystathionine beta-synthase and cystathionine gamma-lyase double gene transfer ameliorate homocysteine-mediated mesangial inflammation through hydrogen sulfide generation. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 300: C155-C163, 2011. First published October 13, 2010; doi: 10.1152/ajpcell. 00143.2010.-Elevated level of homocysteine (Hcy) induces chronic inflammation in vascular bed, including glomerulus, and promotes glomerulosclerosis. In this study we investigated in vitro mechanism of Hcy-mediated monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) induction and determined the regulatory role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to ameliorate inflammation. Mouse glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) were incubated with Hcy (75 mu M) and supplemented with vehicle or with H2S (30 mu M, in the form of NaHS). Inflammatory molecules MCP-1 and MIP-2 were measured by ELISA. Cellular capability to generate H2S was measured by colorimetric chemical method. To enhance endogenous production of H2S and better clearance of Hcy, cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) genes were delivered to the cells. Oxidative NAD(P) H p47(phox) was measured by Western blot analysis and immunostaining. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1/2) were measured by Western blot analysis. Our results demonstrated that Hcy upregulated inflammatory molecules MCP-1 and MIP-2, whereas endogenous production of H2S was attenuated. H2S treatment as well as CBS and CSE doubly cDNA overexpression markedly reduced Hcy-induced upregulation of MCP-1 and MIP-2. Hcy-induced upregulation of oxidative p47(phox) was attenuated by H2S supplementation and CBS/CSE overexpression as well. In addition to that we also detected Hcy-induced MCP-1 and MIP-2 induction was through phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2. Either H2S supplementation or CBS and CSE doubly cDNA overexpression attenuated Hcy-induced phosphorylation of these two signaling molecules and diminished MCP-1 and MIP-2 expressions. Similar results were obtained by inhibition of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 using pharmacological and small interferring RNA (siRNA) blockers. We conclude that H2S plays a regulatory role in Hcy-induced mesangial inflammation and that ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 are two signaling pathways involved this process.