Effects of adipose-derived stem cells cultured with astragaloside on cisplatin-induced apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:The validity of stem celltransplantation for acute kidney injury has been verified by many studies. However, the mechanism of repair of tubular epithelial cellinjury remains unclear. OBJECTIVE:To investigate protective effects and mechanisms of adipose-derived stem cells cultured with astragaloside on the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by cisplatin. METHODS:There were four groups. Renal tubular epithelial cells were induced by 2.5μmol/L cisplatin for 24 hours. Models of renal tubular cellinjury were established in the cisplatin group. Adipose-derived stem cells were cocultured with renal tubular epithelial cells of injured kidney in the adipose-derived stem cells+renal tubular epithelial cells group. Using Transwel chamber, adipose-derived stem cells were incubated with 20 mg/L astragaloside for 48 hours, and then cocultured with renal tubular epithelial cells in the astragaloside-incubated adipose-derived stem cells+renal tubular epithelial cells group. Normal renal tubular epithelial cells served as controls (normal control group). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Compared with renal tubular epithelial cellinjury group, AV/PI and TUNEL results demonstrated that the apoptotic rate and number of renal tubular epithelial cells were apparently reduced in the adipose-derived stem cells+renal tubular epithelial cells group and 20 mg/L astragaloside-incubated adipose-derived stem cells+renal tubular epithelial cells group. ELISA results displayed that insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were significantly elevated in the 20 mg/L astragaloside-incubated adipose-derived stem cells+renal tubular epithelial cells group (P<0.05). Western blot assay results exhibited that caspase-3 protein levels were noticeably diminished, but Bcl-2 expression was significantly increased in the 20 mg/L astragaloside-incubated adipose-derived stem cells+renal tubular epithelial cells group (P<0.05). Results suggested that astragaloside-incubated human adipose-derived stem cells suppressed the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells induced by cisplatin, which contributes to the early recovery of injured renal tubule. Its protective mechanism was probably associated with the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-1, inhibition of caspase-3 expression and upregulation of Bcl-2 levels.