Expression of Osteopontin and molecules in EMT of rats with chronic allograft nephropathy / 中华器官移植杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the expression of OPN, α-SMA, E-cadherin and their correlation in the chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) rat model, and to explore the possible role of OPN in CAN.Methods Orthotopic renal-transplantation using Fisher rats as donors and Lewis rats as recipients was done to establish CAN group, and Lewis to Lewis rats as control group. Rats in each group were sacrificed 12 weeks after the surgery. Blood and urine were collected for further test. Allograft samples were collected and sectioned for HE, Sirus-red staining, immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results There were CAN morphological changes of the allograft in CAN group. As compared with control group, immunohistochemistry and Western blot revealed that the expression of OPN and α-SMA in CAN group was significantly increased, and that of E-Cadherin reduced. Its trend was correlated with the inflammatory response and the EMT of tubule epithelial cells.Conclusions OPN expression in rat CAN model is significantly up-regulated. OPN may play a role in CAN. OPN might affect the CAN by promoting EMT of tubule epithelial cells.