Effect of Egr-1 gene transfection on renal inflammation in diabetic mice / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM:To observe the effects of Egr-1 gene transfection on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α( TNF-α) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 ( ICAM-1) , and to investigate the role of Egr-1 in the pathogenesis of dia-betic nephropathy .METHODS:The diabetic mouse model was established .Ten mice were randomly selected as the dia-betic group .The remaining 40 mice were injected with empty plasmid , Egr-1 expression plasmid or Egr-1 siRNA plasmid via the tail vein once a week.The normal control group was also set up .The animals were sacrificed at the end of the 4th week.The renal tissues were harvested .The expressions of Egr-1, TNF-αand ICAM-1 were detected by immunohisto-chemistry and Western blot .The pathological changes were observed under electron microscope .RESULTS: In diabetic mouse kidney, the expression of Egr-1, TNF-αand ICAM-1 was increased, and irregular thickening of glomerular basement membrane , mesangial expansion and fusion of foot were observed .The change trend was more significant in Egr-1 gene transfection group , and these changes in siRNA plasmid transfection group were obviously reduced compared with diabetes group.CONCLUSION:Egr-1 up-regulates the expression of TNF-αand ICAM-1, and induces mesangial cell proliferation and mesangial extracellular matrix accumulation , which is probably one of the mechanisms of accelerating glomerulosclerosis .