[Effects of Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) tetrapeptide on apoptosis-related genes in glomerular mesangial cells].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RGDS) tetrapeptide on the expressions of apoptosis-related genes interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE) and bcl-2 in human glomerular mesangial cells, so as to provide experimental evidence for regulating proliferation and apoptosis of mesangial cells with RGD-containing polypeptide.


METHODS
Propidium iodide staining was used to observe the condensation and fragmentation of apoptotic nuclei. The internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was detected by DNA electrophoresis on agarose gel. The expressions of ICE and Bcl-2 were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
After ten hours of incubation, the glomerular mesangial cells treated with RGDS peptide displayed features consistent with apoptosis, such as nuclear condensation and fragmentation, and a regularly spaced "ladder" shape of genomic DNA electrophoresed. And RT-PCR showed that expressions of both ICE and Bcl-2 mRNAs were apparently increased in RGDS treated group, compared with that of the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated for the first time that RGDS peptide was able to induce apoptosis in human glomerular mesangial cells, during the process ICE and bcl-2 genes may have an important regulating role.
Chen
X
X
Kidney Center of PLA, Department of Nephrology, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing.
Wang
J
J
Fu
B
B
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D020170:Caspase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis
D009842:Oligopeptides; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; C046617:arginyl-glycyl-aspartyl-serine; D020170:Caspase 1