title: [Interleukin-18-induced transdifferentiation in renal proximal tubular cells is mediated by activation of p38MAPK pathway].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of p38MAPK signaling pathway in interleukin-18-induced transdifferentiation in renal proximal tubular cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2 cells) was cultured in vitro. After preincubated with SB203580 (0, 5, 10, 20 micromol/L) for 30 minutes, cells were exposed to IL-18 (100 ng/ml) for 24, 48 and 72 hours respectively. The expressions of a-smooth actin (alpha-SMA) in cultured HK-2 cells were assessed by RT-PCR and ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-18-induced expressions of a-SMA mRNA and protein were inhibited obviously by a dose-dependent manner when HK-2 cells were incubated with SB203580 (0, 5, 10, 20 micromol/L) and IL-18 (100 ng/ml) for different time (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-18-induced transdifferentiation of renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) is suppressed obviously by blocking p38MAPK signaling pathways. IL-18-induced transdifferentiation of RTECs is probably mediated, at least in part, through the activation of p38MAPK signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, China.
authors.forename: Jun-feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cui-wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Hua-feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Xiao-wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D054338:Cell Transdifferentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D058628:Myofibroblasts / Q000166:cytology*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007093:Imidazoles; D020382:Interleukin-18; D011725:Pyridines; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580