title: Hepatocyte growth factor protects human mesangial cells against apoptosis induced by lead damage.
abstract: Lead is a kind of nephrotoxic metal which frequently threats human health. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a multifunctional growth factor that protects cell apoptosis. In this study, human mesangial cells (HMCs) were treated with a single HGF dose of 20 and 40 μl/ml in order to investigate the effect of HGF on proliferation and apoptosis ability of HMCs induced by lead acetate. In HGF-treated group, HMCs were incubated with HGF (20, 40 μl/ml) half an hour prior to lead inducing. After lead-induced damage 48 h, the proliferation of HMCs was measured by MTT assay, and the apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry. RT-PCR was used to detect the expression of P53, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 mRNA. The expression of Bax protein was measured by Western blot analysis. The results showed that HGF inhibits proliferation of HMCs induced lead acetate in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). HGF significantly promoted the proliferation of HMCs, and flow cytometry revealed that HGF can inhibit apoptosis of HMCs. RT-PCR and Western blot showed that P53, Bax, and caspase-3 expression decreased, while Bcl-2 expression increased. HGF may afford a protection to HMCs against lead-induced damage.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Center of Medicine, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military, People's Liberation Army, Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Gene Drug of Gansu Province, 333 Southern Binhe Road, Lanzhou, 730050, China, jjiaqh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Qinghua
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Xiaoqin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Zhihua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; C008261:lead acetate