Abstract

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) has become the common and principal microvascular complication of diabetes that could lead to end-stage renal disease. It was reported endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) in glomeruli plays an important role in DN. Enolase1 (ENO1) and Lysine Methyltransferase 5A (KMT5A) were found to modulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in some situations. In the present study, we speculated KMT5A regulates ENO1 transcript, thus participating in hyperglycemia-induced EndMT in glomeruli of DN. Our study represented vimentin, αSMA and ENO1 expression elevated, and CD31 expression decreased in glomeruli of DN participants and rats. In vitro , high glucose induced EndMT by increase of ENO1 levels. Moreover, high glucose downregulated KMT5A levels and increased regulatory factor X1 (RFX1) levels. KMT5A upregulation or si-RFX1 decreased high glucose-induced ENO1 expression and EndMT. RFX1 overexpression- or sh-KMT5A-induced EndMT was attenuated by si-ENO1. Further, the association between KMT5A and RFX1 was verified. Furthermore, histone H4 lysine20 methylation (the direct target of KMT5A) and RFX1 positioned on ENO1 promoter region. sh-KMT5A enhanced positive action of RFX1 on ENO1 promoter activity. KMT5A reduction and RFX1 upregulation were verified in glomeruli of DN patients and rats. KMT5A associated with RFX1 to modulate ENO1, thus involved in hyperglycemia-mediated EndMT in glomeruli of DN.