Doxorubicin-Induced Fetal Mesangial Cell Death Occurs Independently of TRPC6 Channel Upregulation but Involves Mitochondrial Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species

Doxorubicin (DOX), a category D pregnancy drug, is a chemotherapeutic agent that has been shown in animal studies to induce fetal toxicity, including renal abnormalities. Upregulation of the transient receptor potential cation (TRPC) 6 channel is involved in DOX-induced podocyte apoptosis. We have previously reported that TRPC6-mediated Ca signaling promotes neonatal glomerular mesangial cell (GMC) death. However, it is unknown whether DOX alters mesangial TRPC expression or viability in the fetus. In this study, cell growth was tracked in control and DOX-treated primary GMCs derived from fetal pigs. Live-cell imaging demonstrated that exposure to DOX inhibited the proliferation of fetal pig GMCs and induced cell death. DOX did not alter the TRPC3 expression levels. By contrast, TRPC6 protein expression in the cells was markedly reduced by DOX. DOX treatment also attenuated the TRPC6-mediated intracellular Ca elevation. DOX stimulated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) generation and mitophagy by the GMCs. The DOX-induced mtROS generation and apoptosis were reversed by the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant mitoquinone. These data suggest that DOX-induced fetal pig GMC apoptosis is independent of TRPC6 channel upregulation but requires mtROS production. The mtROS-dependent GMC death may contribute to DOX-induced fetal nephrotoxicity when administered prenatally.