ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate whether the signaling pathway of Akt/protein kinase B (PKB)is involved in the pathogenesis in the early stage of chronic allograft nephropathy(CAN). Methods The kidneys of Fisher(F344)rats were orthotopically transplanted into Lewis recipients. Animals were harvested respectively at 4th,8th,12th and 16th week after transplantation for renal function and histological examination.The expression of p-Akt and MMP-9 was detected by immuno- histochemical assay,and that expression of p-Akt mRNA by RT-PCR.Results At the 16th week after kidney transplantation,the levels of 24-h proteinuria and serum creatinine in transplant rats were higher significantly than those in LEW controls and F344 controls.The expression of p-Akt protein and mRNA was up-regulated,and there was a significantly negative correlation between the expression of p-Akt and the quantity of smooth muscular cells(SMCs)in arteriolar wall,the quality of tubuloin- terstitial infiltrated mononuclear cells and also MMP-9 level.Conclusion The up-regulation of p-Akt played an important role in the pathogenesis such as proliferation and migration of SMCs,infiltrated mononuclear cells in tubulointerstitial in CAN,and may be the signaling pathway leading to the up- regulation of MMP-9 expression in the early stage of CAN.