Proximal tubule pannexin 1 contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death during acute kidney injury

Pannexin 1 (Panx1) is a membrane-associated channel that, when activated, facilitates the release of small metabolites into the extracellular environment. These metabolites signal as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) and initiate inflammation. Upregulation and activation of Panx1 is one of the early events during inflammatory injury. Animal models show that a lack of Panx1 is protective against acute kidney injury (AKI). How Panx1 modulates AKI is poorly understood. We utilized both in vivo and in vitro models of PANX1 overexpression to study mitochondrial function, cell death, and inflammation to evaluate how Panx1 contributes to AKI. We used two models of AKI, ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and cisplatin-induced AKI (cis-AKI), in animals that overexpress PANX1 globally or specifically in the proximal tubule or in the endothelium. Cisplatin-induced injury was investigated in vitro in PANX1-overexpressing proximal tubule cells in culture. Both global and proximal tubule-specific overexpression of PANX1 exacerbated AKI, whereas endothelium-specific overexpression had no effect. Panx1-dependent metabolite release and alterations in the intracellular compartment in proximal tubules independently contributed to cell death in vitro. PANX1 overexpression impaired mitochondrial function and increased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. PANX1 overexpression resulted in increased inflammation in the kidneys during cis-AKI. We showed that PANX1 overexpression resulted in overt renal injury during AKI that is in part mediated by reduced mitochondrial function, increased cell death, and inflammation. Selective strategies to inhibit Panx1 could help prevent or treat AKI.<b>NEW & NOTEWORTHY</b> Despite the huge medical, economical, and quality of life burden that AKI poses to patients, there are no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapeutic or pharmaceutical interventions for AKI. Pannexin 1 (Panx1), which is upregulated in patients with AKI as well as in animals that develop experimental AKI, plays a crucial role in mediating both inflammation and cell death during AKI. Our findings suggest clinical interventions with molecules that inhibit Panx1 channel activity could improve outcomes in AKI patients.