Publication Date
12-5-2023
Journal
Journal of Clinical Investigation
DOI
10.1172/JCI172963
PMID
38051585
PMCID
PMC10866669
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
12-5-2023
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes
Keywords
Animals, Humans, Mice, Acetate-CoA Ligase, Fibrosis, Kidney, Kidney Diseases, Kidney Tubules, Lipogenesis
Abstract
Worldwide, over 800 million people are affected by kidney disease, yet its pathogenesis remains elusive, hindering the development of novel therapeutics. In this study, we used kidney-specific expression of quantitative traits and single-nucleus open chromatin analysis to show that genetic variants linked to kidney dysfunction on chromosome 20 target the acyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family 2 (ACSS2). By generating ACSS2-KO mice, we demonstrated their protection from kidney fibrosis in multiple disease models. Our analysis of primary tubular cells revealed that ACSS2 regulated de novo lipogenesis (DNL), causing NADPH depletion and increasing ROS levels, ultimately leading to NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis. Additionally, we discovered that pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of fatty acid synthase safeguarded kidney cells against profibrotic gene expression and prevented kidney disease in mice. Lipid accumulation and the expression of genes related to DNL were elevated in the kidneys of patients with fibrosis. Our findings pinpoint ACSS2 as a critical kidney disease gene and reveal the role of DNL in kidney disease.
Included in
Endocrine System Diseases Commons, Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Commons, Medical Sciences Commons
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