ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of JLP on transdifferentiation of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2),and to investigate the role of p38 MAPK signaling pathway in this process.Methods The knock-down plasmids of JLP were constructed.HK-2 cells were randomly divided into four groups:negative control cells (Ctrl-shRNA group),knock-down jlp cells (jlpshRNA group),negative control cells with FGF-2 treatment (FGF-2 group) and knock-down jlp cells with FGF-2 treatment(jlp-shRNA +FGF-2 group).The expressions of JLP,E-cadherin,TGF-β1,α-SMA,p-p38 MAPK protein were detected by Western blotting.After the induction of FGF-2 for 24 hours,the expressions of α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,FN were detected by immunocytochemistry.Results Compared with Ctrl-shRNA group,the expression of JLP protein was significantly down-regulated in FGF-2 group.Compared with FGF-2 group,the expressions of TGF-β1,α-SMA,p-p38 MAPK protein were significantly up-regulated,while E-cadherin protein was significantly down-regulated (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with FGF-2 group,the expressions of α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,FN immunostaining increased markedly in jlp-shRNA+FGF-2 group.Conclusion Scaffolding protein JLP is critical in preventing EMT in the course of fibrosis through the inhibition of p-p38 activation in HK-2 cells.