The role of c-Jun amino terminal kinase pathway in the differentiation of anaerobic renal tubular epitheli-al cells / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the role of c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase(JNK)pathway in renal tubular epithelial cells(RTEC)transdifferentiation by detecting the expression of JNK pathway in the injury of hypoxic RTEC. Methods In vitro cultured rat RTEC were randomly divided into four groups of normal control, hypoxia,inhibitors,dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO). The groups of hypoxia,inhibitor and DMSO were placed into a vacuum tank to establish hypoxia model. The cells were harvested 6,12 and 24 h after hypoxia started. RT-PCR and Western blot test were used to detect the mRNA expressions of alpha smooth muscle actin(α- SMA)and protein expressions of JNK,pJNK and alpha SMA,respectively,in all the groups. Results Hypoxia induced significantly increased expressions of α-SMA mRNA and proteins,and JNK and pJNK proteins as well in RTEC (all P<0.05).After addition of inhibitors,the expression of α-SMA mRNA and proteins,the protein expression of pJNK in RTEC were significantly decreased(all P < 0.05)and the expression of JNK protein was significantly increased(P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the expressions of JNK,pJNK,α-SMA in RTECs between hypoxia group and DMSO group(all P>0.05).There was a significant positive correlation between pJNK protein and α-SMA protein expression(P < 0.01). Conclusion In hypoxic RETC injury in rats,JNK pathway may be involved in the RTEC phenotype transdifferentiation.