Effect of insulinª²like growth factor I on the transdifferentiation and collagen synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cells

    ZHANG Aiª²qing, GAN Weiª²hua*, CHEN Rongª²hua**, PAN Xiaoª²qin, FEI Li

    Institute of Pediatrics, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029; Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, China

    [Abstract] AIM: To investigate the role of insulinª²like growth factor ¢ñ(IGFª²¢ñ) in transdifferentiation and collagen synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK2 in vitro. METHODS: Cultured HK2 cells were divided into two groups: (1) control group; (2) IGFª²¢ñª²treated group(25,50,100,200¦Ìg/L, respectively). The cell morphological changes were traced with inverted microscope, and the expression of ¦Áª²smooth muscle actin (¦Áª²SMA), collagen ¢ñ¦Á and collagen ¢ó¦Á mRNA was detected by RTª²PCR. Concentration of collagen ¢ñsecreted into the culture supernatant was determined by ELISA. RESULTS: In HK2 cells, IGFª²¢ñ stimulated the morphlolgical ovalª²toª²fusiform transdifferentiation of the cells, and upregulated ¦Áª²SMA, collagen ¢ñ¦Á and collagen ¢ó¦Á mRNA expression(P<0.05). Secreted collagen ¢ñ level was also upª²regulate by IGFª²¢ñin the concentration of 100 and 200¦Ìg/L, recpectively. CONCLUSION: IGFª²¢ñ can promote the transdifferentiation of human renal tubular epithelial cells and stimulate the synthesis of collagen. ......