[Effects of rhein on the function of human mesangial cells in high glucose environment].
OBJECTIVE
To study the mechanisms of anti-diabetic nephropathy of rhein on cultured human mesangial cells (HMCs).


METHODS
To mimic the hyperglycemic (HG) environment of diabetic nephropathy, 30 mmol x L(-1) glucose were added to 10% FBS RPMI 1640. The HMCs were treated with rhein for 8, 24, 48 or 72 h, at these time, the bioactivity, total activity of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGFbeta1), activity of p38MAPK (p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases, by using immunoprecipitate and Western blot), MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2), and MMP-9 (matrix metalloproteinase-9, by using gelatinase zymography) and the proliferation of HMCs in high glucose media were measured. Meanwhile the levels of secretion of FN in cultured HMCs were measured.


RESULTS
The results showed that rhein markedly inhibit the proliferation of HMCs, significantly reduce the bioactivity of TGFbeta1 and FN secretion in HMCs, and decrease the increased activity of p38MAPK, but showed no action on the activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9.


CONCLUSIONS
Rhein reduced the secretion of FN and inhibited the proliferation of HMCs may through inhibiting the bioactivities of TGFbeta1 and p38MAPK.
Tan
Zheng-Huai
ZH
Sichuan Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Chengdu 610041, China. tanzhh616@sohu.com
Shen
Ying-Jun
YJ
Zhao
Jun-Ning
JN
Li
Hang-Yi
HY
Zhang
Jie
J
D000818:Animals; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005947:Glucose / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008907:Mink; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
D000880:Anthraquinones; D003470:Culture Media; D005353:Fibronectins; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D005947:Glucose; C020491:rhein