[Influence of PAX2 gene silencing on renal interstitial fibrosis in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of silencing PAX2 gene in vivo on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal tubular cells in rats with renal interstitial fibrosis.


METHODS
A total of 64 Wistar rats were anaesthetized, and unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was performed to establish a rat model of renal interstitial fibrosis. The 64 rats were randomly divided into negative control and PAX2 gene silencing groups (n=32 each). The rats in the control group were transfected with 200 μL NC-siRNA-in vivo jetPEI(TM) solution. Those in the PAX2 gene silencing group were transfected with 200 μL PAX2-siRNA-in vivo jetPEI(TM) solution. Each group was further divided into 4 subgroups based on the post-transfection time (3, 5, 7 and 14 days after transfection), with 8 rats in each subgroup. Renal tissue samples were harvested in each group. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to measure the mRNA and protein expression of PAX2 in the renal cortex, as well as the mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and α-SMA.


RESULTS
Compared with the control group, the PAX2 gene silencing group showed significantly lower mRNA and protein expression of PAX2 (P<0.05). In the two groups, the mRNA and protein expression levels of E-cadherin were gradually reduced over the time of obstruction, while those of α-SMA gradually increased. At 14 days after transfection, the PAX2 gene silencing group had significantly higher mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin but lower mRNA and protein expression of α-SMA compared with the control group (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PAX2 gene silencing can significantly inhibit the process of EMT of renal tubular cells in rats with advanced fibrosis, suggesting that PAX2 gene silencing may have a therapeutic effect on renal interstitial fibrosis.
Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital of Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang 154002, China. wcs0451@163.com.
Li
L
Li
Yu-Bin
YB
Wu
Hai-Sheng
HS
Xu
Chang-Shan
CS
Wang
D000818:Animals; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005355:Fibrosis; D020868:Gene Silencing; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; C551986:PAX2 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger