Renal fibrosis is a common consequence of unilateral ureteral obstruction, which provides a useful model to investigate the pathogenesis of obstructive nephropathy and progressive renal fibrosis. Transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) has been recognized as a key mediator in renal fibrosis by stimulating matrix-producing fibrogenic cells and promoting extracellular matrix deposition. Therefore, considerable efforts have been made to regulate TGF-β signaling for antifibrotic therapy. Here, we investigated the mode of action of glucosamine hydrochloride (GS-HCl) on TGF-β1-induced renal fibrosis. In the obstructed kidneys and TGF-β1-treated renal cells, GS-HCl significantly decreased renal expression of α-smooth muscle actin, collagen I, and fibronectin. By investigating the inhibitory mechanism of GS-HCl on renal fibrosis, we found that GS-HCl suppressed TGF-β signaling by inhibiting N-linked glycosylation of the type II TGF-β receptor (TβRII), leading to an inefficient trafficking of TβRII to the membrane surface. Defective N-glycosylation of TβRII further suppressed the TGF-β1-binding to TβRII, thereby decreasing TGF-β signaling. Notably, GS-HCl treatment significantly reduced TGF-β1-induced up-regulation of Smad2/3 phosphorylation and transcriptional activity in vivo and in vitro. Taken together, GS-HCl-mediated regulation of TGF-β signaling exerted an antifibrotic effect, thereby ameliorating renal fibrosis. Our study suggests that GS-HCl would be a promising agent for therapeutic intervention for preventing TGF-β1-induced renal fibrosis in kidney diseases.

• Glucosamine-mediated attenuation of TGF-β signaling ameliorates renal fibrosis in vivo
• TGF-β1-induced fibrogenic action is reduced by glucosamine in vitro
• N-glycosylation of the type II TGF-β receptor is suppressed by glucosamine
• Glucosamine-induced defective N-glycosylation of TβRII decreases TGF-β signaling.