title: [Transdifferentiation and collagen-synthesis effects of exogenous connective tissue growth factor on renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of recombinal human connective tissue growth factor (rhCTGF) stimulation on epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation (EMT) and collagen-synthesis in human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK2) in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cultured HK2 cells were stimulated with rhCTGF of 5 ng/mL. The morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. The cells were collected at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hrs after rhCTGF stimulation. The expression of E-cadherin,alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), collagen Ialpha1 (Col Ialpha1) and collagen IValpha1 (Col IValpha1) mRNAs were detected by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  rhCTGF stimulation changed the HK2 cell appearance from oval to fusiformdown-regulated the E-cadherin mRNA expression and up-regulated alpha-SMA mRNA expression, but had no effects the Col Ialpha1 and Col IValpha1 mRNA expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exogenous CTGF can mediate the EMT but has no collagen-synthesis effects on HK2 cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pediatrics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Rong-Hua
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fei
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003094:Collagen