Matrix Gla protein expression in NRK-52E cells exposed to oxalate and calcium oxalate monohydrate crystals.
OBJECTIVE
Matrix Gla protein (MGP), a potent calcification inhibitor in extracellular matrix, is a molecular determinant regulating vascular calcification. Here, we characterized MGP expression in cultured renal tubular epithelial cells exposed to oxalate and calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) crystals.


METHODS
NRK-52E cells were cultured and exposed to medium containing oxalate or COM for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. The levels of MGP mRNA expression were quantified using real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and the levels of protein expression were characterized by Western blot.


RESULTS
MGP was expressed rapidly and intensively following exposure to COM and was time-dependent with exposure to oxalate.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results have given a profile of MGP expression in renal tubular epithelial cells exposed to oxalate and crystals and provided support for an association between MGP and kidney stones. Further investigations on the mechanism of the MGP in the process of crystal-cell interaction may be important in the future.
Gao
Bing
B
Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shenyang Medical College, Shenyang, China.
Yasui
Takahiro
T
Lu
Xiuli
X
Zhou
Hongge
H
Liu
Jian
J
Liu
Ping
P
Okada
Atsushi
A
Xiao
Chunling
C
Kohri
Kenjiro
K
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002129:Calcium Oxalate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D003460:Crystallization; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D019815:Oxalic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein
D002129:Calcium Oxalate; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D019815:Oxalic Acid; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000097568:Matrix Gla Protein