Protein kinase C-α interaction with iHSP70 in mitochondria promotes recovery of mitochondrial function after injury in renal proximal tubular cells.

This study determined the role of PKC-α and associated inducible heat shock protein 70 (iHSP70) in the repair of mitochondrial function in renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs) after oxidant injury. Wild-type PKC-α (wtPKC-α) and an inactive PKC-α [dominant negative dn; PKC-α] mutant were overexpressed in primary cultures of RPTCs, and iHSP70 levels and RPTC regeneration were assessed after treatment with the oxidant tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP). TBHP exposure increased ROS production and induced RPTC death, which was prevented by ferrostatin and necrostatin-1 but not by cyclosporin A. Overexpression of wtPKC-α maintained mitochondrial levels of active PKC-α, reduced cell death, and accelerated proliferation without altering ROS production in TBHP-injured RPTCs. In contrast, dnPKC-α blocked proliferation and monolayer regeneration. Coimmunoprecipitation and proteomic analysis demonstrated an association between inactive, but not active, PKC-α and iHSP70 in mitochondria. Mitochondrial iHSP70 levels increased as levels of active PKC-α decreased after injury. Overexpression of dnPKC-α augmented, whereas overexpression of wtPKC-α abrogated, oxidant-induced increases in mitochondrial iHSP70 levels. iHSP70 overexpression (1) maintained mitochondrial levels of phosphorylated PKC-α, (2) improved the recovery of state 3 respiration and ATP content, (3) decreased RPTC death (an effect abrogated by cyclosporine A), and (4) accelerated proliferation after oxidant injury. In contrast, iHSP70 inhibition blocked the recovery of ATP content and exacerbated RPTC death. Inhibition of PKC-α in RPTC overexpressing iHSP70 blocked the protective effects of iHSP70. We conclude that active PKC-α maintains mitochondrial function and decreases cell death after oxidant injury. iHSP70 is recruited to mitochondria in response to PKC-α dephosphorylation and associates with and reactivates inactive PKC-α, which promotes the recovery of mitochondrial function, decreases RPTC death, and improves regeneration.