[Synergistic effect of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and aristolochic acid I on transdifferentiation of human tubular epithelial cells in vitro].
OBJECTIVE
To test the possible role of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and its synergistic effect with aristolochic acid I (AAI) on tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (TEMT) of human renal tubular epithelial cells (HKC) in vitro.


METHODS
The cultured HKC cells were divided into four groups: (1) negative control (serum-free); (2) MCP-1 group; (3) AAI group; (4) AAI + MCP-1 group. The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), vimentin and cytocreatin was assessed by indirect enzyme immunohistochemistry and the percentages of alpha-SMA((+)) HKC cells were assessed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
The expression of cytocreatin of HKC cells decreased, while the expression of alpha-SMA, vimentin increased when treated with MCP-1 or with AAI and MCP-I concomitantly. Alpha-SMA((+)) HKC cells cultured in serum-free medium was 3.1% by flow cytometry. The percentages of alpha-SMA((+)) HKC cells were 8.6%, 9.6%, 13.4% (P < 0.05 vs control) when treated with 20, 40, 80 microg/L of AAI. The percentages of alpha-SMA((+)) HKC cells were 0.5% and 1.4% (P > 0.05 vs control) when treated with 5, 10 microg/L. The percentages of alpha-SMA((+)) HKC cells were 20%, 26.2%, 20.3%, 23.2% (P < 0.05 vs control) when treated with 0.001, 0.01, 0.05, 0.1 microg/L of MCP-1. When the HKC cells were treated with MCP-1 (0.1 microg/L) and AAI (5, 10, 20, 40 microg/L), the percentage of alpha-SMA((+)) cells increased markedly to 23.2%, 98.7%, 81.5%, 65.1% (P < 0. 01 vs group 1, 2, 3, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that: (1) MCP-1 may induce the transdifferentiation of HKC cells into myofibroblasts in vitro; (2) AAI at some doses may partially induce HKC cells transdifferentiation. (3) MCP-1 and AAI may have a synergistic effect on transdifferentiation of HKC cells in vitro.
Zheng
F
F
Division of Nephrology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Wen
X
X
Li
X
X
Gao
R
R
Zhang
X
X
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D034341:Aristolochic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D000199:Actins; D034341:Aristolochic Acids; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins; C000228:aristolochic acid I