G1 kinases and transforming growth factor-β signaling are associated with a growth pattern switch in diabetes-induced renal growth

Background Diabetes mellitus-induced nephromegaly is thought to involve both hyperplastic and hypertrophic proximal tubule cell growth. The temporal relationship between these growth patterns and the mechanisms that mediate them are unknown. Methods. Renal growth was assayed in isolated renal proximal tubules harvested from diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by streptozotocin. Results. Following the induction of a diabetic state, there was a progressive increase in the kidney:body weight ratio. This was associated with an increase in 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation (marker for hyperplastic cell growth) at day 2, which returned to baselines levels by day 4, and an increase in the protein:DNA ratio (marker for hypertrophic cell growth), which was clearly evident by day 10. Thus, diabetes-induced proximal tubule growth involved an initial hyperplastic, followed by a hypertrophic, growth period. During the hyperplastic growth period, both cdk4/cyclin D (cyclin D) and cdk2/cyclin E (cyclin E) kinase activities were increased. The switch between the growth periods was associated with continued activation of cyclin D, but inhibition of cyclin E kinase. The reduction in cyclin E kinase activity correlated with a reduction in cdk2/cyclin E complex abundance and an increased abundance of cyclin kinase inhibitors in cdk2/cyclin E complexes that did form. Also associated with the switch in growth patterns was a change in transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) receptor expression. During the hyperplastic growth period, TGF-beta receptor II expression was decreased, while during the hypertrophic growth period, there was both a return of receptor II expression to baseline levels and increased expression of receptor I. Consistent with an increase in TGF-beta signaling during hypertrophy, there was an increase in Smad 2/3 protein expression and an increase in the abundance of Smad 2/4 complexes. Conclusions. Diabetes-induced proximal tubule growth involves an initial hyperplastic growth period that switches to a hypertrophic growth period within a couple of days, The pattern of G(1) kinase activity associated with the growth pattern switch demonstrates that the hypertrophy is mediated by a cell cycle-dependent mechanism. Regulation of TCF-beta receptor expression and signaling activity through the Smad protein cascade possibly plays a role in the growth pattern switch.