Materials Ang-(1–7) and palmitate (PA) were purchased from Med Chem Express (Monmouth Junction, NJ, USA). Anti-CHOP (#2895), anti-BIP (#3177T), anti-p-eIF2α/eIF2α (#3597) and anti-cleaved caspase 3 (#9661) were purchased from Cell Signaling Technology (Beverly, MA, USA). Anti-Mas (ab156018), anti-perilipin-2 (PLIN2) (ab108323), anti-CD36 (ab133625), anti-MCP-1 (ab7202), anti-IL-1β (ab2105), anti-Bcl-2 (ab182858), anti-Bax (ab32503), anti-LAMP2 (ab25631), anti-p62 (ab109012) and anti-β-actin (ab8226) were obtained from Abcam (Cambridge, MA, USA). The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) kit was obtained from Roche (Takara Bio Inc., Tokyo, Japan). The Triglyceride Colorimetric Assay Kit, Urea Fluorometric Assay Kit, creatinine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) Kit, and TNF-α ELISA Kit were purchased from Cayman (Biomol GmbH, Germany). Cholesterol ELISA kits, free fatty acid ELISA kits, and urinary albumin ELISA kits were obtained from Yaji (Shanghai, China).
Animal Models All animal experiments were performed with the approval of the Animal Care Committee at Fudan University (Shanghai, China). Twenty six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into two groups: mice fed a standard rodent chow (10% of total calories from fat) diet (marked as CON, n = 6) and a high fat (60% of total calories from fat) diet (n = 14) for 12 weeks. The HFD mice were then divided into two groups receiving either Ang-(1–7) (100 ng·kg− 1 ·min− 1, designated HFDA, n = 7) or saline (designated HFD, n = 7) by micro-osmotic pumps for 4 weeks. At the 16th week, 24-h urine samples were collected from the mice using metabolic cages. At the end of the experiment, the mice were anesthetized with phenobarbital sodium at a working concentration of 1% and a dose of 50mg/kg. The experimental mice were sacrificed for cervical dislocation under anesthesia. Blood and kidney specimens were obtained. After centrifugation (3,500 rpm for 15 min), the serum was collected and stored at − 80°C until further use. The kidney specimens were frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at − 80°C. The study is reported in accordance with ARRIVE guidelines
Cell culture
HK2 cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 containing 5% FBS at 37°C. PA medium was dissolved by mixing PA at a concentration of 0.4 mM with 37.88 µM BSA. HK2 cells cultured with BSA were used as the control. Cells were starved overnight in culture medium without FBS prior to intervention with PA or Ang-(1–7) (100 nM) for 24 h and lysed with RIPA buffer for western blot analysis. HK2 cells were cultured on 24-well plates and fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for immunofluorescence.
Renal Oil Red O Staining Kidney tissue was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, embedded in paraffin and cut into 10-µm sections. Sections were rinsed three times in PBS for 5 min, infiltrated with 60% isopropylene for 1 ~ 2 min and then permeabilized with 60% Oil Red O solution for 2 ~ 5 min. The staining solution was removed by rinsing in 60% isopropylene, and the nuclei were counterstained with hematoxylin for 1 min.
Immunohistochemistry Kidney tissue sections were dewaxed and rehydrated. After blocking endogenous peroxidase, antigen retrieval was performed in citrate buffer by microwave treatment. Sections were blocked with 5% fetal bovine serum at room temperature for 1 h, and then the primary antibodies were added and incubated overnight at 4°C. On the following day, the slides were exposed to secondary antibodies at room temperature for 1 h. Finally, ABC complexes were added to the slides and incubated at 37°C for 30 min, and peroxidase activity was measured with DAB.
Immunofluorescence Staining Kidney tissue sections were dewaxed and rehydrated. Antigens were retrieved in citrate buffer, and the sections were blocked with 5% fetal bovine serum. Primary antibodies were then added, and the sections were incubated at 4°C overnight. Slides were exposed to fluorescent antibodies for 1 h at room temperature. After washing in PBS, the slides were mounted with DAPI.
Western Blot Renal tissues were centrifuged, and the supernatant was collected. The protein concentration was determined with a BCA protein assay kit (Beyotime Biotechnology, Shanghai, China), and equal amounts of proteins were loaded onto gels. After separation and transfer, the proteins were transferred to a PVDF membrane. After blocking with 5% milk on a shaker for 1 h, the membrane was incubated with primary antibodies at 4°C overnight, followed by incubation with secondary antibodies (anti-rabbit or anti-mouse horseradish peroxidase-conjugated antibodies purchased from Beyotime Biotechnology, Shanghai, China) for 1 h at room temperature.
ELISA Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urinary albumin, and cytokines (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA kits. The antibody dilution was added to the plate at 4°C overnight. After washing the wells with PBST, the samples were diluted, added to the plate and incubated on a shaker for 2 h. The secondary antibody was then added, followed by the HRP reaction. Finally, the colorimetric solution was added, and OD values were measured by an ELISA plate reader.
Statistical analysis Results are presented as the means ± standard deviations. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05.