ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect of raloxifene on ERα, ERβ and MT-1a expression in renal tubular epithelial cells contaminated with cadmium chloride,for exploring the protective effect and action mechanism of raloxifene in renal injury induced by cadmium. Methods Renal tubule cells were isolated from kidneys of new born SD rats and purified by Percoll. The cells of the second generation were selected for experiment. The cells were divided into 3 groups:blank control group,cadmium chloride group and raloxifene group. After 4 h,cell viability was detected by MTT,and after 24 h,mRNA and protein expression levels of ERα, ERβ and MT-1a in renal tissues were determined by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry technology,respectively. Results Compared with the blank control group,morphology of plenty cells were changed in cadmium chloride group,a number of cells were dead,and the survival rate was only 55.3%;at the same time,mRNA and protein expression levels of ERβ and MT-1a significantly increased (P0.05) . Conclusion Raloxifene can bond with ERβcompetively,down-regulate MT-1a and decrease Cd-MT synthesis,so as to reduce cadmium-induced damage of renal tubular epithelial cells.