title: Is there any role of epithelial to mesenchymal transition in the pathogenesis of contrast nephropathy?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Contrast medium-induced nephropathy is one of the major complications of intravenous contrast medium use. But its pathogenesis is unclear. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is defined as the transformation of the primer epithelial cells to mesenchymal cells. EMT in tubular cells might cause tubulointerstitial damage. In this study, we investigated whether or not EMT has a role in radiocontrast-induced nephropathy. Radiocontrast medium might be triggering reversible EMT via serum and glucocorticoid-regulated kinase 1 (SGK 1). We investigated the effect of different concentrations of the contrast agent iopromide on human proximal tubule cell (HK-2) culture by measuring the level of SGK1, snail family zinc finger 1 (SNAIL1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a scratch assay and qPCR. HK-2 cells were cultured in the petri dishes/flasks and starved with serum-free medium. The 40, 20, and 10 mg/mL doses of iopromide were administrated to cells. The scratches were photographed immediately and again at the 20th hour. The levels of gene expression of SGK1, SNAIL1, CTGF, and COL1A1 were measured using the real-time qPCR system at the end of the 24th hour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Iopromide caused the breaking of intercellular connections, the disappearance of the cobblestone appearance of cells, and the migration of cells at the 20th hour in the scratch assay. It also increased the expression of SGK1, SNAIL1, CTGF, and COL1A1 genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study concluded that certain important markers of EMT increase in different concentrations of the contrast agent. High osmolality might trigger EMT. The relationship between contrast agent and EMT has not been defined before. Further in vivo and in vitro studies are required.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nephrology, Medical Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey ;
authors.forename: Hayriye
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sayarlioglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey ;
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Okuyucu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey ;
authors.forename: Abdulkerim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bedir
authors.affiliation: c Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Health Sciences Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey ;
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Salis
authors.affiliation: d Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Medical Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Eser
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yenen
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nephrology, Medical Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey ;
authors.forename: Garip
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bekfilavioglu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Nephrology, Medical Faculty , Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey ;
authors.forename: Coskun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaya
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007472:Iohexol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000378:metabolism*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D003287:Contrast Media; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D007472:Iohexol; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D000099184:Serum-Glucocorticoid Regulated Kinases; C526317:CCN2 protein, human; C000716127:COL1A1 protein, human; C000604407:SNAI1 protein, human; C038192:iopromide
keywords: Contrast nephropathy; HK-2 cells; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; iopromide; tubular epithelial cells culture