The effect of matrine on adriamycin-induced podocyte injury and the function of mTOR signaling pathway / 临床儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objectives To investigate the effect of matrine (MAT) on adriamycin (ADR) induced podocyte injury in vitro and explore the function of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) protein signaling pathway during the intervention. Methods ADR (1μmol/L) was used to induce the model of podocyte injury and then the podocytes were intervened by 10, 20 and 40μg/ml MAT for 24 hours. The viability and apoptosis rate of podocytes, mRNA and protein expressions of desmin and mTOR were detected. The effect of different concentrations of MAT on ADR-induced podocytes was analyzed. Results Com-pared with the control group, declined viability of podocytes (P<0.001), increased percentage of apoptotic podocytes (P<0.001), and increased expression of damage marker desmin (P=0.002) were observed in ADR group. In ADR group, after intervention with MAT of 10-40μg/ml, increased viability of podocytes (P<0.05), decreased percentage of apoptotic podocytes (P<0.05), and decreased expression of damage marker Desmin were found (P<0.05). The protein expression of mTOR and phosphorylation state of mTOR (p-mTOR) decreased in ADR induced-podocytes (P<0.05), and after intervention with MAT of 10-40μg/ml, the expression of mTOR and p-mTOR increased (P<0.05). The expression of mTOR downstream target protein s6k1 and 4EBP1 mRNA decreased in ADR group (P=0.071), while increased after intervention with MAT of 10-40μg/ml (P<0.05). Conclusions 10-40μg/ml MAT have protective effects on ADR-induced podocytes in vitro. The protection mechanism may be related to mTOR signaling pathway.