title: Study on lead-induced activation of rat renal interstitial fibroblasts and the related mechanisms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lead is a common industrial toxicant and has been proved to be associated with the kidney damage.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect and mechanism of lead on expression of rat renal interstitial fibroblast activation related protein.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression of activation related protein mRNA was measured by real-time PCR in the NRK/49F treated by lead acetate with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 µmol/L). The effects of lead acetate on the level of fibronectin (FN) and signal transduction factors (Smads protein) expression were observed by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mRNA expression of activation-related protein increased significantly after the cells were stimulated by lead acetate for 24 h. The lead acetate-treated group could upregulate the p-Smad2, p-Smad3 and FN protein expression compared with the control group. The level of Smad2/3 protein expression did not change in all groups, the expression of SnoN decreased significantly compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lead acetate could increase the mRNA expression of activation-related factors. It could promote inflammatory reaction induced by TGF-β via Smad signaling pathway. Lead acetate has the effect on inducing the renal fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xingya
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Kuang
authors.forename: Xuefang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Mindong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007854:Lead / Q000633:toxicity*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007854:Lead
keywords: Activation related protein; Smad; lead acetate; renal interstitial fibroblast