Dexamethasone Inhibits Podocyte Apoptosis by Stabilizing the PI3K/Akt Signal Pathway

Corticosteroids like dexamethasone (DEX) are well-established treatments for the glomerular disease that sustain renal function, at least in part, by protecting podocytes from apoptotic death. In this study, we found that PAN causes abnormal expression of the PI3K-binding protein CD2AP, reducing PI3K/Akt signaling and promoting podocyte apoptosis. In contrast, DEX restores CD2AP-PI3K-Akt-GSK3β signaling, which promotes the activity of antiapoptotic proteins and inhibits the activity of proapoptotic proteins. In addition, we also found that CD2AP was aberrantly colocalized with p85. Normal CD2AP mRNA expression and subcellular protein distribution were maintained in the PAN + DEX group, and DEX coapplication also reduced CD2AP-p85 colocalization. PAN evoked a concentration-dependent decrease in p-Akt and p-GSK3β expressions, with p-Akt expression reaching a nadir at 15 min and p-GSK3β expression at 30 min. DEX treatment induced a concentration-dependent reversal of PAN-induced p-Akt and p-GSK3β downregulation. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 blocked p-Akt and p-GSK3β expressions in podocytes. Cells treated with PAN exhibited a significantly higher apoptosis rate than untreated or vehicle-treated cells. Furthermore, LY294002 exacerbated PAN-induced apoptosis. DEX cotreatment caused a significant concentration-dependent decrease in PAN-induced apoptosis. These results strongly suggest that DEX protects podocytes by stabilizing the expression and subcellular distribution of CD2AP and by maintaining the expression of phosphor-activated Akt and GSK3β.