ABSTRACT
Objective To study the potency of transdifferentiated renal tubular epithelial cells for acquiring the tissue stem cells during renal fibrosis.Methods The in vitro cellular model of renal tubular epithelial cells(NRK-52E)transdifferentiation under the inflammatory environment of the local renin-angiotensin (AngⅡ)system was established.The expression and change situation of the embryonic kidney developmental gene Pax2 and the tissue stem cell surface marker CD133 were observed.Results Local high concentration of AngⅡcould stimulate the NRK-52E cells to express Pax2 and CD133 molecule,its effect demonstrated the dose-and time-dependent relation.Conclusion The inflammatory damage leads to the transdifferentiated renal tubular epithelial cells po-tency to acquire the tissue stem cell.
ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the prevalence of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (antiCCP) in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and its potential clinical significance. Methods Anti-CCP was measured in sera from patients with JSLE (n=47), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA, n=54) and the sera from age-matched healthy children (n=40) using the third generation of anti-CCP ELISA commercial kit. The association of anti-CCP with other laboratory parameters and clinical features, especially arthritic symptoms in JSLE was also analyzed. T-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis. Results Out of the 47 JSLE patients, 6 (13%) were anti-CCP positive, which was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls( 13% vs 0, P<0.05 ), but not different from that of the JIA group (26%, P=0.098). RF was more prevalent in JSLE patients with anti-CCP than patients without (83% vs 15%, P<0.01 ), but there was no difference in other laboratory parameters and the clinical features ineluding the occurrence of arthritis (67% vs 51%, P>0.05). As one of the initial symptoms, arthritis was observed in 25 of 47 JSLE patients and no one had developed deforming arthropathy.There was no statistical difference in anti-CCP positivity between JSLE patients with and without articular involvement ( 16% vs 9%, P>0.05 ). Anti-CCP was not detected in any of the 3 patients with JSLE who had experienced joint pain and limited activity during 3 years follow-up. Conclusion Anti-CCP could be detected in patients with JSLE. It is noteworthy when differentiate from juvenile idiopathic arthritis, but the presence of anti-CCP does not relate with the occurrence of arthritis at presentation and persistence of arthritis in JSLE.