The role of cyclin G1 and CDK5 in chronic kidney disease.

Summary: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 10% of the world’s population and is characterized by
progressive fibrosis and loss of kidney function, leading to end stage renal disease. Effective therapies to prevent
or curtail the advancement of fibrosis remains a major clinical challenge. Kidney proximal tubule cells (PTC)
have the remarkable ability to respond to injury by entering an earlier developmental state, termed
dedifferentiation, and dividing to replace lost cells. PTCs then redifferentiate to resume normal function. For over
100 years, however, it has been known that a subset of PTCs never fully redifferentiate, and these chronically
injured PTCs are a main driver of fibrosis and CDK progression. Although recent studies have better
characterized these cells, it remains unclear why these chronically injured PTCs can’t recover from injury, while
neighboring cells can. In studies funded by this award, we made a breakthrough by discovering key players that
regulate G2/M arrest, dedifferentiation, senescence and fibrosis in CKD, the atypical cyclin, cyclin G1, and its
cyclin dependent kinase (CDK5). Using cyclin G1 or CDK5 knockout kidneys as tools, we experimentally
dissected G2/M arrest from dedifferentiation and fibrosis. Surprisingly, we found that while G2/M arrest was more
common in maladaptively repaired cells, its functional role in CKD progression was limited. Instead, we
discovered cyclin G1/CDK5 induced a state of profibrotic dedifferentiation that led to senescence and CKD we
termed ‘maladaptive dedifferentiation.’ In the current proposal, we aim to test the therapeutic potential of
redifferentiating maladaptively dedifferentiated cells. In our preliminary data we found that the cyclin G1/CDK5
pathway regulates dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1) mediated mitochondrial fission. In vitro, we discovered that
maladaptive dedifferentiation could be reversed by targeting the cyclin G1/CDK5 pathway or mitochondrial
dysfunction via Drp1. If the PTCs progressed to senescence, however, they became much harder to
redifferentiate. Importantly, these findings translated in vivo. In animal models we found selective deletion of
Drp1 after recovery from AKI induced redifferentiation and prevented senescence. These data indicate that
redifferentiation of maladaptively repaired PTC is possible. Based on these data, cyclin G1/CDK5-induced
mitochondrial dysfunction promotes and extends maladaptive dedifferentiation in PTCs, preventing
redifferentiation and promoting irreversible senescence. To test this hypothesis, we will: 1. Determine the ‘point-
of-no-return’ for PTC redifferentiation. We will test if and when targeting the cyclin G1/CDK5 pathway promotes
redifferentiation and prevents AKI-to-CKD transition using Cre promotors to target dedifferentiated or senescent
cells specifically. 2. Determine if restoration of mitochondrial morphology is necessary for PTC redifferentiation.
Using conditional knockout mice, specific inhibitors, and metabolic flux assays we will examine whether
restoration of FAO promotes redifferentiation. This proposal represents a new direction for the field of CKD
research by directly targeting the maladaptive dedifferentiated PTCs with redifferentiation therapies.

Grant Number: 5R01DK121101-07
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Craig Brooks