ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of ATF6 on the apoptosis and proliferation of podocytes induced by palmitic acid (PA). Methods Podocytes were stimulated with different doses of PA for 24 h. The expression of cleaved-caspase3 was detected by Western blotting. The podocyte apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of ATF6 was tested by Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. After the transfection of adenovirus siRNA against ATF6, the proliferation, the cell cycle and apoptosis of potocytes stimulated with PA were tested by MTT or FCM. Results The levels of cleaved - caspase3 and ATF6 of podocytes stimulated with PA were significantly increased by a dose-dependent manner compared with the control group (P<0.05). The apoptosis of podocytes stimulated with PA was increased (P<0.05). Compared with the podocytes stimulated with PA, the apoptosis of podocytes transfected by adenovirus siRNA against ATF6 with PA stimulation was significantly reduced (P<0.05). The proliferation of podocytes transfected by adenovirus siRNA against ATF6 and stimulated with PA, however, was obviously increased compared with the podocytes stimulated with PA (P<0.05). Conclusion ATF6 mediated the apoptosis of podocytes induced by palmitate acid.