[Interventional effect of emodin on the expression of intergern linked kinase in tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation].

AIM

To observe the change of ILK expression in interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta)-induced tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation, and to investigate whether emodin inhibit IL-1beta-induced tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation through an intergern linked kinase-dependent mechanism.

METHODS

Normal rat kidney epithelial cell line (NRK52E) was cultured and then divided into blank group, emodin control group, IL-1beta-induced group and emodin-inhibited group. When the cells were cultured for 48 h, their morphological changes were observed by an inverted phase contrast microscope. The expression of a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) and E-cadherin were detected using a two-color immunohistochemistry staining technique, while the expression of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) was detected using a one-color immunohistochemistry staining technique. The secretion of fibronectin (FN) was analyzed by ELISA.

RESULTS

NRK52E cells cultured with IL-1 became fibroblast-like in appearance. The expression of a-SMA was enhanced (65h5+/-1h7 vs 140h4+/-3h0, P<0h05), the expression of E-cadherin was decreased (82h5+/-1h0 vs 36h0+/-2h8, P<0h05), the expression of ILK was enhanced (36h1+/-3h1 vs 82h4+/-1h2, P<0h05), and the secretion of FN was increased (54h6+/-3h1 vs 124h8+/-3h2 mg/L, P<0h05). Emodin markedly inhibited all of those changes induced by IL-1beta.

CONCLUSION

The expression of ILK is up-regulated in IL-1beta-induced tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transdifferentiation. Emodin might inhibit TEMT by a down-regulation the expression of ILK.