title: [Effects of exogenous connective tissue growth factor on collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the role of exogenous connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK2 in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cultured HK2 cells were randomly assigned to three groups: placebo-control, low-dose CTGF-treated (2.5 ng/mL) and high-dose CTGF-treated groups (20 ng/mL). Cell morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Collagen III alpha mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the levels of intracellular collagen III alpha protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 48 hrs of low- or high- dose CTGF treatment, the appearances of HK2 cells were changed from oval to fusiform. High-dose CTGF treatment increased collagen III alpha mRNA expression (0.4461+/-0.0274 vs 0.2999+/-0.0115; P<0.05) as well as the protein expression of collagen III alpha (0.4075+/-0.0071 vs 0.3503+/-0.0136; P<0.05) compared with the placebo-control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTGF can induce morphological changes of human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. High concentration of CTGF may increase the synthesis of collagen III alpha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China.
authors.forename: Ai-Qing
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.forename: Gui-Xia
authors.initials: GX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gong
mesh_terms: D002478:Cells, Cultured; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: C526317:CCN2 protein, human; D024061:Collagen Type III; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor