Blocking connexin 43 hemichannel‐mediated ATP release reduces communication within and between tubular epithelial cells and medullary fibroblasts in a model of diabetic nephropathy

INTRODUCTION: Fibrosis of renal tubules is the final common pathway in diabetic nephropathy and develops in the face of tubular injury and fibroblast activation. Aberrant connexin 43 (Cx43) hemichannel activity has been linked to this damage under euglycaemic conditions, however, its role in glycaemic injury is unknown. This study investigated the effect of a Cx43 blocker (Tonabersat) on hemichannel activity and cell–cell interactions within and between tubular epithelial cells and fibroblasts in an in vitro model of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: Human kidney (HK2) proximal tubule epithelial cells and medullary fibroblasts (TK173) were treated in low (5 mM) or high (25 mM) glucose ± transforming growth factor beta‐1 (TGFβ1) ± Tonabersat in high glucose. Carboxyfluorescein dye uptake and ATPlite luminescence assessed changes in hemichannel‐mediated ATP release, while immunoblotting determined protein expression. Co‐incubation with the ATP‐diphosphohydrolase apyrase or a P2X7R inhibitor (A438079) assessed ATP‐P2X7R signalling. Indirect co‐culture with conditioned media from the alternate cell type evaluated paracrine‐mediated heterotypic interactions. RESULTS: Tonabersat partially negated glucose/TGFβ1‐induced increases in Cx43 hemichannel‐mediated ATP release and downstream changes in adherens junction and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression in HK2 and TK173 cells. Apyrase and A438079 highlighted the role for ATP‐P2X7R in driving changes in protein expression in TK173 fibroblasts. Indirect co‐culture studies suggest that epithelial cell secretome increases Tonabersat‐sensitive hemichannel‐mediated dye uptake in fibroblasts and downstream protein expression. CONCLUSION: Tonabersat‐sensitive hemichannel‐mediated ATP release enhances TGFβ1‐driven heterotypic cell–cell interaction and favours myofibroblast activation. The data supports the potential benefit of Cx43 inhibition in reducing tubulointerstitial fibrosis in late‐stage diabetic nephropathy.