The uremic toxin hippurate promotes endothelial dysfunction via the activation of Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fission

The accumulation of uremic toxins in chronic kidney disease (CKD) induces inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, which is a key step in atherosclerosis. Accumulating evidence indicates increased mitochondrial fission is a contributing mechanism for impaired endothelial function. Hippurate, a uremic toxin, has been reported to be involved in cardiovascular diseases. Here, we assessed the endothelial toxicity of hippurate and the contribution of altered mitochondrial dynamics to hippurate-induced endothelial dysfunction. Treatment of human aortic endothelial cells with hippurate reduced the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increased the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and von Willebrand factor (vWF). The mechanisms of hippurate-induced endothelial dysfunction in vitro depended on the activation of Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1)-mediated mitochondrial fission and overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS). In a rat model in which CKD was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy (CKD rat), we observed increased oxidative stress, impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, and elevated soluble biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ICAM-1 and vWF). Similarly, endothelial dysfunction was identified in healthy rats treated with disease-relevant concentrations of hippurate. In aortas of CKD rats and hippurate-treated rats, we observed an increase in Drp1 protein levels and mitochondrial fission. Inhibition of Drp1 improved endothelial function in both rat models. These results indicate that hippurate, by itself, can cause endothelial dysfunction. Increased mitochondrial fission plays an active role in hippurate-induced endothelial dysfunction via an increase in mitoROS.