Blockade of interleukin-8 receptor signalling inhibits cyst development in vitro, via suppression of cell proliferation in autosomal polycystic kidney disease

Aim: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a highly prevalent inherited disorder and results in the progressive development of cysts in both kidneys. In recent studies, several cytokines and growth factors secreted by the cyst-lining epithelia were identified to be upregulated and promote cyst growth. According to our previous study, chemokines with a similar amino acid sequence as human interleukin-8 (IL-8) are highly expressed in a rodent model with renal cysts. Therefore, in this study, we focused on whether IL-8 signalling is associated with renal cyst formation, and tested the possibility of IL-8 as a new therapeutic target for ADPKD.

Methods: Expression of IL-8 and its receptor were screened either by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or Western blot. Inhibited IL-8 signalling by antagonist for IL-8 receptor or gene silencing was tested in molecular levels, mainly through Western blot. And cell proliferation was measured by XTT assays. Finally, a three-dimensional culture was performed to understand how IL-8 affected cyst formation, in vitro.

Results: Interleukin-8 secretion and expression of its receptor highly increased in two different human ADPKD cell lines (WT9-7 and WT9-12), compared to normal human renal cortical epithelial cell line. Cell proliferation, which is mediated by IL-8 signal, was inhibited either by an antagonist or siRNA targeting for IL-8 receptor. Finally, a three-dimensional culture showed an alleviation of cystogenesis in vitro, after blocking the IL-8 receptor signals.

Conclusion: These results suggest that IL-8 and its signalling molecules could be new biomarkers and a therapeutic target of ADPKD.