IHG-1 Increases Mitochondrial Fusion and Bioenergetic Function

Induced in high glucose-1 (IHG-1), also known as tRNA-histidine guanylyltransferase 1-like, was originally identified as a glucose-regulated transcript in a screen for genes associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN) (1–3). IHG-1 is a highly conserved protein localized to mitochondria and plays an important regulatory role in mitochondrial biogenesis by stabilizing the transcriptional cofactor peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor-γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) (4). IHG-1 expression is increased in human DN and is likely to contribute to the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) in this disease (5). IHG-1 amplifies responses to the major fibrotic mediator transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 by both increasing and prolonging phosphorylation of signal mediator Smad3 (5). IHG-1 must be localized to mitochondria to amplify TGF-β1 signaling (6).

Mitochondria play a central role in cellular adaptation to hyperglycemic conditions (7). In diabetes, increased glucose metabolism resulting in increased mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to be the primary event leading to the development and progression of diabetic vascular complications (8). Oxidant stress resulting from increased ROS contributes to TGF-β1 activity in the diabetic kidney (9,10). Hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and TGF-β1 signaling induce increased mitochondrial biogenesis and alterations in mitochondrial dynamics (11–17). Mitochondria are plastic organelles that frequently change shape and size. Dynamic fusion and fission events are important for the bioenergetic function of mitochondria (18) as is PGC-1α activity, which plays a key role in enhancing mitochondrial stress–related bioenergetic function (19).

Mitochondrial fusion relies on dynamin-related GTPases, mitofusins (Mfns) 1 and 2, and optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) (20,21). Mitochondrial fission relies on another GTPase: cytosolic dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which translocates to mitochondria under circumstances that promote fission to interact with mitochondrial outer membrane protein fission 1 (Fis1) (22). The balance between mitochondrial fission and fusion is important in maintaining mitochondrial quality. Mitochondrial fusion ensures mixing of organelle components, ensures preservation of mitochondrial membrane potential, protects against oxidant stress and apoptosis, and allows for optimal bioenergetic function (23–27). Conversely, mitochondrial fission is associated with apoptosis (28,29).

Here we report that IHG-1 is a novel regulator of mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergetic function and contributes to cell survival following oxidant stress. These data suggest that IHG-1 plays a pivotal role in maintaining mitochondrial quality, an important feature of TIF in diabetic kidney disease (30).

Stably transduced cell lines have been described previously (Supplementary Fig. 1) (4,6). No significant effects of doxycycline were observed (Supplementary Figs. 2 and 3).

Cells were counted and seeded in XF24 culture plates at 7.5 × 10⁴ cells per well in 100 µL of culture medium. Once cells had attached (∼2 h) a further 250 µL of culture medium was added, and cells were incubated at 37°C with 5% CO₂ overnight. Prior to assay, cells were washed with assay media (XF assay medium supplemented with 1 mmol/L sodium pyruvate, 1 mg/mL glucose, and 2 mmol/L L-glutamine) and equilibrated in 675 µL prewarmed assay media per well at 37°C with no CO₂ for 1 h. Measurements of oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were performed using an XF24 extracellular flux analyzer (Seahorse Bioscience). Prior to each rate measurement, each sample was gently mixed for 2 min and a further 3-min wait time was used to allow oxygen partial pressure to reach equilibrium. For each rate measurement, OCR and ECAR were measured simultaneously for 3 min. Once a baseline measurement had been established, rates were measured following compound addition (1 μmol/L oligomycin, 0.5 μmol/L carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone, and 0.1 μmol/L rotenone). At the end of each assay, cell density per well was determined by removing the assay media and adding 2.5 μmol/L calcein-AM in PBS (200 µL per well). Cells were incubated for 1 h at 37°C, and fluorescence intensity at 530 nm (excitation = 488 nm) was the measured using a FLUOstar Omega plate reader. OCR and ECAR measurements were normalized to cell density for each sample.

Cells were seeded in 96-well culture plates at 7.0 × 10⁴ cells per well in 100 µL of culture medium. Cells were incubated overnight. Intracellular ATP was measured using an ATPlite Luminescence ATP detection kit according to manufacturer’s instructions (PerkinElmer). ATP concentration in samples was determined using a standard curve. Cell density for each sample was measured in duplicate wells by removing the culture medium and adding 2.5 μmol/L calcein-AM (Merck) in PBS (200 µL per well). Cells were incubated for 1 h at 37°C, and fluorescence intensity at 530 nm (excitation = 488 nm) was measured using a FLUOstar Omega plate reader. ATP concentration was normalized to cell density for each sample.

Mitochondrial morphology was examined by fluorescence microscopy in cells transduced with pLenti6/AcGFP1-Mito. Cells were cultured on eight-well μ-slides. Andor iQ software was used to acquire images with an Andor Technology iXon^EM+ EMCCD camera mounted on a Nikon Eclipse Ti microscope equipped with a Yokogawa CSU-X1 scan head using a Nikon Plan Apo 40× oil (NA = 1.3) or Nikon Plan Fluor 100× oil objective (NA = 1) at 37°C in phenol red-free media. Cells were classified based on the majority (>70%) of mitochondria. Tubular network-like morphology with constant diameter throughout the cell was considered normal; short/punctuate mitochondria were considered fragmented; increased mitochondrial diameter and aggregation of mitochondria was considered fused; and continuous tubular mitochondria with very little branching were considered elongated. For each sample, 45 individual cells were analyzed, each from a separate field and from at least three independent experiments.

For fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis, HeLa cells were cultured on eight-well μ-slides. FRAP assessments were carried out using Andor iQ software with an Andor Technology iXon^EM+ EMCCD camera mounted on a Nikon Eclipse Ti microscope equipped with a Yokogawa CSU-X1 scan using a Nikon Plan Fluor 100× oil objective (NA = 1) at 37°C in phenol red-free media. Mitochondrial-targeted GFP (mtGFP) was bleached to ∼50% of the initial signal using a brief pulse of high-intensity laser illumination, followed by acquisition of images every 2 s for duration of 2 min.

This assay was adapted from Legros et al. (31). Cells expressing AcGFP1-Mito and DsRed2-Mito were mixed and plated on eight-well μ-slides 8–16 h before cell fusion. Cells at 70–100% confluency were washed with PBS and incubated for 30 s with 500 µL of a 50% (weight/volume in minimum essential medium) solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1500. Cells were then washed gently three times with prewarmed culture medium containing 20 µg/mL cycloheximide to inhibit protein synthesis. Imaging of polykaryons containing both GFP- and RFP-labeled mitochondria was commenced 5 h after cell fusion. Images were acquired using Andor iQ software with an Andor Technology iXon^EM+ EMCCD camera mounted on a Nikon Eclipse Ti microscope equipped with a Yokogawa CSU-X1 scan head using a Nikon Plan Apo 40× oil (NA = 1.3) objective (NA = 1) at 37°C in phenol red-free media. Images were taken at 30-min intervals for at least 5 h. Mitochondrial fusion was determined to have occurred in regions where GFP and RFP were merged (i.e., yellow fluorescence detected due to overlap of fluorophores).

Cells were lysed in lysis buffer (20 mmol/L Tris pH 8.0, 135 mmol/L NaCl, 1 mmol/L MgCl₂, 0.1 mmol/L CaCl₂, 10% glycerol, 1% NP-40, and 50 mmol/L β–glycerophosphate) supplemented with protease inhibitor cocktail. GTP-agarose beads were blocked in 1% BSA for 1 h at 4°C and then washed twice with wash buffer (25 mmol/L 3-N-morpholinopropanesulfonic acid pH 7.2, 12.5 mmol/L β–glycerophosphate, 25 mmol/L MgCl₂, 5 mmol/L EGTA, 2 mmol/L EDTA, 0.002% BSA, and 0.25 mmol/L dithiothreitol). Cell lysates were incubated with blocked GTP-agarose beads for 2 h at 4°C. Samples were then washed three times with lysis buffer. GTP-bound Mfn2 was assessed by immunoblotting. Cell lysate incubated with unbound agarose demonstrates the specificity of the binding (Supplementary Fig. 1E).

Measurement of [Ca²⁺]_i mobilization was carried out using the Fluoroskan Ascent FL according to a previous method (32).

Cells at ∼80% confluency were treated with glucose oxidase (10 μg/mL) or sorbitol (200 or 250 mmol/L). Cells were detached using Accutase after treatment and combined with floating cells. For assessment of apoptosis, cells were washed and incubated with annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate in binding buffer (200 mmol/L HEPES, 2.8 mol/L NaCl, and 50 mmol/L CaCl₂) for 15 min at 37°C. Cells were washed once with binding buffer prior to the addition of 10 µg/mL propidium iodide. Cells were then analyzed using a cyan ADP cytometer. For mitochondrial membrane potential measurements, cells were stained with 200 nmol/L tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) for 15 min or 5 μg/mL JC-1 for 15 min at 37°C. Cells were then washed once with PBS. TMRE was measured at 575 nm and JC-1 at 530 and 590 nm.

All experiments were carried out with a minimum of n = 3. Intergroup comparisons were made by Student t test or one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey posttest using GraphPad Prism, with P < 0.05 considered statistically significant.

We have previously reported that IHG-1 increases mitochondrial biogenesis and stabilizes the transcriptional activator PGC-1α in both renal proximal tubule cells (RPTC) and HeLa cells (4). PGC-1α activity regulates mitochondrial respiration and functions to boost respiratory capacity to withstand cellular stress, suggesting that IHG-1 may regulate mitochondrial respiration (19). In order to investigate the role of IHG-1 in cellular respiration, we used an extracellular flux analyzer to measure OCR in previously generated stable proximal tubule (HK-2) cell lines expressing tetracycline-inducible IHG-1–specific short hairpin RNA interference (shRNAi) or a scrambled shRNAi control (Scr) (4).

Loss of endogenous IHG-1 expression led to a significant decrease in both basal respiration and total respiratory capacity (less than 50% of control cells; P < 0.01) (Fig. 1A) and a significant decrease in ATP production (Fig. 1B). Expression of mitochondrial complexes II and V were unaltered (Fig. 1C). Conversely, overexpression of IHG-1 led to a significant increase in both basal respiration and cellular respiratory capacity (Fig. 1D). These data indicate that IHG-1 is required for mitochondrial respiration in renal proximal tubules cells.

Dynamic fusion and fission events are important for the bioenergetic function of mitochondria (18). To assess the role of IHG-1 in mitochondrial dynamics, we fluorescently labeled mitochondria by overexpressing mtGFP in previously generated stable cell lines overexpressing IHG-1 or expressing IHG-1 shRNAi (Supplementary Fig. 1) (4). Mitochondrial networks in these cells were analyzed by confocal microscopy and scored as being normal, fragmented, elongated, or fused (i.e., aggregates principally clustered around the nucleus). Mitochondrial networks in control cells were typically highly connected and contained tubular mitochondria (Fig. 2). Loss of endogenous IHG-1 expression resulted in a marked reduction in mitochondrial connectivity and individual mitochondria that were small and punctate in appearance (Fig. 2A). Further images for each cell line are shown in Supplementary Fig. 4. This was not associated with increased turnover of mitochondria (Supplementary Fig. 5). Conversely, overexpression of IHG-1 resulted in mitochondria that were aggregated or fused (Fig. 2B). The effects of both IHG-1 knockdown and overexpression were not related to changes in the expression of known mediators of fission or fusion including Drp1, Fis1, Mfn1, Mfn2, and OPA1 (Supplementary Fig. 6).

FRAP was performed on IHG-1 overexpression and knockdown cell lines to quantify mitochondrial dynamics. Reduced endogenous IHG-1 expression resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of fluorescence recovery (expressed as a percentage of the original fluorescence prior to photobleaching), signifying reduced mitochondrial fusion (P < 0.05) (Fig. 3A), whereas IHG-1 overexpression resulted in a significant increase in the rate of fluorescence recovery, indicating increased mitochondrial fusion (P < 0.05) (Fig. 3B).

To further validate the role of IHG-1 in mitochondrial fusion, a PEG-mediated cell fusion assay was performed. IHG-1 overexpression and knockdown cell lines expressing mitochondrial-targeted RFP (mtRFP) were generated. PEG was used to catalyze the fusion of cellular membranes of the cell lines with RFP- and GFP-labeled mitochondria; this was performed in the presence of cycloheximide to inhibit protein synthesis. Twelve hours after PEG addition, significantly less fluorophore overlap was seen in IHG-1 knockdown cells compared with control cells, indicating a decreased rate of mitochondrial fusion (Fig. 3C). Conversely, in cells overexpressing IHG-1, fluorophore overlap was seen to occur at a notably faster rate when compared with control cells, demonstrating an increased rate of mitochondrial fusion (Fig. 3D). Further images for each cell line are shown in Supplementary Fig. 7. These data strongly indicate that IHG-1 increases mitochondrial fusion.

Mfns (Mfn1 or Mfn2) are essential for mitochondrial fusion, while mitochondrial fission relies on Drp1 and Fis1 (20–22). In order to investigate whether IHG-1 interacts with known mediators of mitochondrial dynamics, protein lysates from HEK293 cells transfected with IHG-1-V5 in combination with Mfn1, Mfn2, Drp1 (all FLAG-tagged), or Fis1 (Myc-tagged) were subjected to immunoprecipitation with both V5 and FLAG (or Myc) antibodies. The immunoprecipitated proteins were analyzed by Western blots probed with V5 and either FLAG or Myc antibodies. All proteins were successfully immunoprecipitated. IHG-1 was coimmunoprecipitated with both Mfn1 (Fig. 4A) and Mfn2 (Fig. 4B) but not with either Drp1 (Fig. 4C) or Fis1 (Fig. 4D), indicating that IHG-1 and Mfn1 and Mfn2 are protein-protein binding partners. Endogenous IHG-1 and Mfn2 were also confirmed to form a complex by coimmunoprecipitation (Fig. 4E). These data demonstrate that IHG-1 forms a complex with both Mfn GTPases.

IHG-1 has an amino terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence that is necessary for its import into mitochondria (4–6). We have previously generated a deletion mutant of IHG-1 that lacks the mitochondrial targeting sequence: Δmts-IHG-1 (6). To investigate whether mitochondrial localization was necessary for IHG-1 to bind to Mfns, HEK293 cells were transfected with Δmts-IHG-1-V5 in combination with FLAG-Mfn1 or FLAG-Mfn2 and subjected to immunoprecipitation with both V5 and FLAG antibodies. Δmts-IHG-1 did not bind to either Mfn1 or Mfn2 (Fig. 5A), indicating that IHG-1 must be localized to mitochondria to interact with the Mfns. To investigate whether Δmts-IHG-1 increased mitochondrial fusion, FRAP analysis was performed in a stable cell line expressing Δmts-IHG-1. Δmts-IHG-1 expression resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of fluorescence recovery, indicating decreased mitochondrial fusion (Fig. 5B). Therefore, IHG-1 must be localized to mitochondria to interact with Mfn1 and Mfn2 and increase mitochondrial fusion. These data indicate that that IHG-1 must interact with the Mfns to enhance mitochondrial fusion.

Mitochondrial fusion requires a functional GTP-binding domain in the Mfns (33). Crystallized IHG-1 was found bound to GTP (34), suggesting that IHG-1 may possibly increase Mfn activity by increasing GTP binding, i.e., by acting as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF). Cell lysates from IHG-1 knockdown and overexpression cell lines were incubated with GTP-agarose in order to investigate the ability of IHG-1 to modulate Mfn-GTP binding. GTP-bound Mfn2 was measured by immunoblot and quantified by densitometry. Loss of endogenous IHG-1 expression resulted in a reduction in the amount of GTP bound to Mfn2 (Fig. 6A) and reduced mitochondrial fusion (Fig. 3A and C), while overexpression of IHG-1 led to increased Mfn2-GTP binding (Fig. 6B) and increased mitochondrial fusion (Fig. 3B and D). IHG-1 must complex with Mfn2 to increase GTP binding, as overexpression of Δmts-IHG-1 resulted in a reduction in the amount of GTP bound to Mfn2 (Fig. 6B) and reduced mitochondrial fusion (Fig. 5B). These data indicate that IHG-1 increases GTP-bound Mfn2, suggesting that IHG-1 may function as a GEF and thus enhance mitochondrial fusion.

Lack of MFN2 has been shown to lead to increased calcium release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores following stimulation with the sarcoplasmic-ER Ca²⁺ ATPase inhibitor tert-buthyl benzohydroquinone (tBuBHQ) (35). tBuBHQ causes the passive release of Ca²⁺ from ER stores, resulting in increases in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). The increase in cytosolic calcium when measured with the fluorescent dye Fluo-4/AM was similar in IHG-1 overexpressing, IHG-1 shRNA knockdown, and control HeLa cell lines (Fig. 7). These data indicate that IHG-1 does not alter cytosolic calcium.

Mitochondrial production of ROS is proposed as the primary event leading to development of diabetic vascular complications (8). Increased mitochondrial fusion decreases ROS production (12,27) and is an important process for maintenance of mitochondrial quality (36). IHG-1 may function in the diabetic kidney to preserve mitochondrial function following oxidant stress. To investigate the role of IHG-1 in cell survival following oxidative stress, IHG-1 overexpressing cell lines were treated with glucose oxidase, which catalyzes the oxidation of glucose to hydrogen peroxide. IHG-1 overexpression significantly protected the cells from ROS-induced apoptosis (Fig. 8A) and resulted in a significant preservation of mitochondrial membrane potential as demonstrated by TMRE staining (Fig. 8B) and confirmed by JC-1 staining (Supplementary Fig. 8). These data indicate that IHG-1 plays an important role in maintaining mitochondria function and cell viability following oxidant stress. No protective effect against hyperosmotic stress-induced apoptosis was seen following overexpression of IHG-1 (Fig. 8C), suggesting that the antiapoptotic effects of IHG-1 may be limited to ROS.

In this article, we propose IHG-1 as a novel regulator in the mitochondrial quality control axis and a key element in the cellular response to oxidant stress. In diabetes, hyperglycemia has damaging effects on mitochondria, resulting in the accumulation of dysfunctional mitochondria and ultimately organ damage (7,37). Mitochondrial quality control relies on maintaining balanced mitochondrial biogenesis, fusion, and fission (7,37,38). Increased stress (e.g., oxidative stress) can alter this balance, leading to dysfunctional mitochondria and disease. Hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial production of ROS plays a critical role in disease development (9) and disease-associated TGF-β1 activity (10) in the diabetic kidney.

We have previously reported mitochondrial IHG-1 to amplify TGF-β1 signaling, stabilize PGC-1α protein, and increase mitochondrial biogenesis in kidney cells (4–6). IHG-1 both increases and prolongs phosphorylation of TGF-β1 signaling mediator Smad3, which, in turn, has been reported to regulate mitochondrial biogenesis (14,17). Consistent with IHG-1–induced stabilization of PGC-1α, we report here that IHG-1 is necessary for mitochondrial respiration. PGC-1α was originally believed essential for mitochondrial biogenesis, but recent studies indicate its principal role is to regulate mitochondrial respiration and to boost respiratory capacity to withstand stress (19). Our data indicate that IHG-1 is necessary for mitochondrial respiratory function in RPTC.

Balanced mitochondrial fusion and fission are critical in maintaining mitochondrial quality (24,37). The rates of fusion and fission need to be tightly controlled to adapt to varying bioenergetic demands in changing physiological conditions (37). Dysregulation of mitochondrial dynamics is a feature of diabetic disease (7,13,37,39,40). IHG-1 increases mitochondrial fusion, consistent with the role of IHG-1 in oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis. Increased IHG-1 expression leading to increased mitochondrial fusion may be a recovery mechanism in response to hyperglycemic stress. Sustained hyperglycemic insult and resulting persistent increases in IHG-1 expression would lead to enhanced mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis, Smad3 signaling, and fibrosis.

Hyperglycemia has been described to induce mitochondrial fission in pancreatic β-cells (39), liver cells (13), endothelial cells, and podocytes (40). However, as adaption of mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity to nutrient availability differs among tissues, the differing responses are likely due to specific cellular physiology. It is worth noting that previous reported studies investigating hyperglycemic-induced changes in mitochondrial dynamics focused on acute exposure to high extracellular glucose (i.e., between 15 min and 48 h) (13,39,40). Monitoring of mitochondrial dynamics throughout the 48-h period showed fluctuating cycles of fission associated with ROS production followed by restoration of mitochondrial architecture (and loss of ROS) (13). These data suggest that in hyperglycemic conditions, increased mitochondrial fission (either resulting from or contributing to increased ROS production) initiates pathways that increase mitochondrial fusion in a cyclic fashion in order to restore the imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics. Therefore, it seems probable that sustained exposure to hyperglycemia may result in imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics, possibly ultimately resulting in increased mitochondrial fusion in RPTC and possibly other cell types.

This concept is strengthened by the observation that in early stages of diabetic kidney disease in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, ultrastructural changes in mitochondria in RPTC (described as giant mitochondria) were found to correlate with disturbances in the main functions of renal tubule cells and typical features of DN (41). Electron microscopy studies have shown that the mean size of mitochondria was larger in DN compared with those in normal controls (41). Similar findings were described for mitochondria in RPTC of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice (42). Increased IHG-1 expression, leading to increased mitochondrial fusion, may be a recovery mechanism in response to hyperglycemic stress. Sustained hyperglycemic insult and resulting persistent increases in IHG-1 expression would lead to enhanced mitochondrial fusion and biogenesis, Smad3 signaling, and fibrosis.

Hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial ROS production is a critical mediator in the development and progression of diabetic vascular complications (8). Increased ROS levels are deleterious to cells and lead to increased mitochondrial fragmentation and apoptosis (43–45), while mitochondrial fusion protects cells from apoptosis (27). IHG-1 overexpression protected cells from ROS-induced apoptosis consistent with its ability to increase mitochondrial fusion.

IHG-1 protects cells from oxidant stress and may function in the diabetic kidney to preserve mitochondrial function and cell viability, while at the same time amplifying TGF-β profibrotic responses. Prosurvival signals are critical in dedifferentiation of RPTC following oxidation injury (46). Dedifferentiation of RPTC is one of the major pathways leading to TIF. The survival of damaged epithelial cells is not necessarily beneficial, and the repair of damaged epithelium is frequently maladaptive, resulting in fibrosis, which has major clinical consequences (47,48). TGF-β1, believed to be the key driver of fibrosis in TIF, has been shown to induce mitochondrial fusion in epithelial cells (15).

IHG-1 must complex with Mfn1 and Mfn2 to increase mitochondrial fusion possibly by acting as a GEF. Lack of Mfn2 has been shown to lead to increased calcium release from ER stores as a result of disruption of ER morphology and ER-mitochondrial interaction. While IHG-1 increases Mfn2 activity and possibly enhances ER-mitochondrial interaction, it does not alter calcium release from ER stores.

Mfn2 is an important mediator in response to metabolic stress in the kidney. Murine kidneys were able to maintain normal filtration and tubular function following conditional deletion of Mfn2, yet showed an increased susceptibility to apoptosis following metabolic stress (49). Consistent with the role of mitochondrial fusion in bioenergetic function, Mfn2 has been reported to stimulate respiration, substrate oxidation, and the expression of subunits involved in respiratory complexes (18,50) and is essential for normal glucose homeostasis (51). IHG-1 interaction with Mfn2 therefore may be important not only in increasing mitochondrial fusion, but also in increasing cellular respiratory capacity.

IHG-1 most likely increases mitochondrial fusion by enhancing the GTP-binding capacity of Mfn2, an action independent of its role in amplifying TGF-β1 signaling responses, consistent with the fact that IHG-1 is a more evolutionary ancient protein than TGF-β1. As TGF-β1 also contributes to mitochondrial fusion, the increased expression of both proteins in diabetic kidney disease is likely to be additive; however, neither IHG-1 nor TGF-β1 altered the expression of Mfn2, Drp1, or complexes of the electron transport chain in RPTC (Supplementary Fig. 9).

The function of the core components of mitochondrial dynamics (i.e., FZO/Mfn, Mgm1/EAT-3/OPA1, and Dnm1/DRP1) are highly conserved in yeast, worms, flies, and mammals while regulatory proteins in general are more varied among these organisms (52). IHG-1, similarly, is a highly conserved protein among eukaryotes (5). The IHG-1 yeast homolog THG1 is an essential protein in yeast (34). Therefore, it seems probable that IHG-1 is a core component of the mitochondrial fusion machinery.

In conclusion, we propose IHG-1 as a novel player in the mitochondrial quality control axis. IHG-1 acts to preserve mitochondrial function by coordinating a prosurvival program involving stabilization of PGC-1α protein and increasing mitochondrial respiratory capacity, biogenesis, and fusion. The net result of these actions protects cell viability following oxidative stress but also leads to amplification of profibrotic TGF-β1 activity in RPTC, most likely leading to TIF. IHG-1, like the Mfns, is evolutionarily ancient and remarkably conserved. As IHG-1 must interact with the Mfns to increase fusion and is an essential protein in yeast, it is likely a crucial player in mitochondrial dynamics and quality control.

Acknowledgments. The authors thank Dr. Dimitri Scholz and Dr. Alfonso Blanco (University College Dublin, Ireland) for technical assistance with fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry in this study. The authors are grateful to Dr. Ruth Gimeno (BioTx Pfizer, Cambridge, MA) for IHG-1 antibody and Didier Trono (University of Geneva, Switzerland) for pCMVΔR8.9 and pMD.2G constructs.

Funding. This work was funded by Science Foundation Ireland (grant numbers SFI/06/IN.1/B114 and SFI/RFP06/BIC304), Wellcome Trust (grant number 073310/Z/03/Z), the Health Research Board, and the Government of Ireland Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions.

Duality of Interest. No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Author Contributions. F.B.H. designed and performed research, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. J.B.C. designed and performed research and analyzed data. B.G., U.B., H.M.R., D.A., S.B., and F.F. performed research. H.M. contributed new analytical tools. F.M., C.G., and M.M. designed research, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript. F.B.H. is the guarantor of this work and, as such, had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Prior Presentation. This work was presented in part at the American Society of Nephrology Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA, 8–13 November 2011; the Irish Nephrology Society Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, 13 May 2010; the Irish Cytometry Society Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, 17–18 November 2009; and the Irish Cytometry Society Meeting, Dublin, Ireland, 17–18 November 2010.