ObjectiveTo explore the effect of JNK-c-Jun signal pathwayon connexin 43 (Cx43) expression and its role in renal tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transition (TEMT) induced by TGF-β1.Methods Normal rat kidney tubular epithelial cells(NRK-52E) were cultured in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium(DMEM) with 10％ fetal bovine serum,then were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group,TGF-β1 group (treated with TGF-β1 10 μg/L),and TGF-β1+SP600125 (selective JNK inhibitor,50 μmol/L) group. The protein expressions of JNK,c-Jun,α-SMA,Cx43 and E-cadherin were assayed by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting.The Cx43mRNA was assayed by RT-PCR.Gap junction intercellular communication(CJIC) was measured by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay(FRAP).Results TGF-β1increased the expressions of JNK,c-Jun and α-SMA(P＜0.05),reduced the expressions of Cx43 and E-cadherin (P＜0.05),and inhibited GJIC of NRK-52E(P ＜0.05).SP600125 could alleviate the above expressions changes and enhanced GJIC induced by TGF-β1.Conclusion JNK-c-Jun signal pathway induces TEMT ofNRK-52E treated with TGF-β1 viadown-regulation of connexin 43expression and inhibition of GJIC.

rotein binding toxin and pathogenic components, and reduce clinical symptoms and patients'prognoses, which is more effective than HP or CVVHDF.

Objective To investigate the expression and distribution of Cdc42-interacting protein 4 (CIP4) in renal fibrotic tissue,and the interaction between CIP4 and β-catenin in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model of HK-2 cell line.Methods In vivo,the model of renal fibrosis was induced by 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy in rat.Masson staining was used to evaluate the level of renal tissue fibrosis.The expression and distribution of CIP4 was detected by immunohistochemistry.In vitro,the EMT model of HK-2 cell line was induced by TGF-β1 (10 μg/L) for 72 h.Western blotting was used to observe the expression of E-cadherin,β-catenin,CIP4 and α-SMA.Colocalization and interaction of CIP4 and β-catenin were detected by immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation respectively.Results Compared to sham group,CIP4 expression was increased in group of 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy,CIP4 was mainly distributed in basolateral side of renal tubular epithelia.In vitro,expressions of α-SMA and CIP4 were increased in HK-2 cells stimulated by TGF-β1 for 72 h (2.5and 1.8 folds,respectively) (all P＜0.05),expression of E-cadherin was decreased(P＜0.05).Partial colocalization between CIP4 and β-catenin was detected by immunofluorescence.In control group,CIP4 and β-catenin partially colocalized at the cell membrane.Mter the stimulation of TGF-β1,translocation to nucleus of CIP4 and β-catenin were increased,and partially colocalized in nucleus.The interaction between CIP4 and β-catenin was observed by immunoprecipitation in both control and TGF-β1 stimulated groups.Conclusions Expression of CIP4 in renal fibrotic tissue is increased,which is mainly distributed in basolateral side of renal tubular epithelia.CIP4 and βcatenin partially colocalize and interact with each other.CIP4 may play a role in EMT process through the interaction with β-catenin.

Objective To investigate the expression of Erbin in renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) and the effect of over-expression of Erbin on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-(β1)-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in NRK52E cells. Methods In vivo, the model of renal fibrosis was induced by 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy in rat. Scr and BUN was detected and Masson staining was used to evaluate the level of renal tissue fibrosis. The location and expression of Erbin in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In vitro, after NRK52E cells were treated by TGF-β1 (10 μg/L) for 72 h, immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to obverse the expression and distribution of E-cadherin and α-SMA. The expression of Erbin mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting respectively. NRK52E cells were transiently transfected with Prk5-myc-Erbin plasmid via lipofectamine 2000, then the expressions of Erbin, E-cadherin and α-SMA were detected by Western blotting. Results (l)Compared to sham group with Scr (33.96±7.28) μmol/L and BUN (8.11±2.55) mmol/L, rats in 5/6 nephrectomy model with Scr (140.52±61.11) μmol/L and BUN (34.23±7.66) mmol/L revealed renal dysfunction. Masson staining indicated kidney interstitial fibrosis, and the expression of Erbin was significantly increased in renal tissue(2.9 folds), especially in tubular epithelia. (2)In vitro, the expressions of Erbin and α-SMA were markedly increased (2.3 folds and 2.1 folds, P<0.05, respectively) and the expression of E-cadherin was dramatically decreased in NRK52E cells stimulated by TGF-β1, which were consistent with immunofluorescence results. TGF-β1-induced E-cadherin suppression and a-SMA induction could be efficiently blocked by over-expression of Erbin (all P <0.05). Conclusions Erbin is up-regulated in renal interstitial fibrosis, and over-expression of Erbin can partly inhibit renal EMT induced by TGF-β1, which indicates Erbin playing an protective role in renal fibrosis.

Objective To observe the effect of CIP4(Cdc42 interacting protein 4)on human renal tubular epithelial to mesenchymal transition(EMT)induced by transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1)and to study the associated mechanism. Methods Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cell line) were cultured with TGF-β1 (10μg/L) for 72 hours. The protein expressions of E-cadherin and α-SMA were measured by Western blotting. One set of siRNA oligos specific for CIP4 and CIP4 construction of the entire coding sequence were designed based on the full CIP4 sequence in GenBank. Then HK-2 cells were transfected with CIP4-siRNA or pcDNA3.1-hCIP4 via lipofactamine 2000. The protein expressions of CIP4, E-cadherin and α-SMA were evaluated respectively in control cells, TGF-β1 treated cells, siRNA transfected cells, pcDNA3.1-hCIP4-transfected cells by Western blotting. The distribution of E-cadherin and α-SMA was observed by confocal microscope. After TGF-β1-treated HK-2 cells were interferenced with specific inhibitor of PI3K-Akt (wortmannin) 1μmol/L for 48 hours, Western blotting was used to detect the CIP4 protein in control cells and interferenced cells. Results With TGF-β1 stimulation, the expression of E-cadherin protein was decreased markedly (P＜0.05), and in contract, the expression of α-SMA were increased notably (P＜0.05), which revealed that TGF-β1 could induce EMT. After transfected with CIP4-siRNA, the protein expression of E-cadherin was increased (P＜0.05), and the protein expression of α-SMA was decreased (P＜0.05). The EMT induced by TGF-β1 was effectively reversed. After transfected with pcDNA3.1-hCIP4, the expression of E-cadherin protein was down-regnlated (P＜0.05), and the expression of α-SMA protein was up-regulated compared with control group (P＜0.05), leading to EMT. After HK-2 cells were interferenced with wortmannin for 48 hours, the expression of CIP4 was decreased (P＜0.05). Conclusion TGF-β1 upregulates the expression of CIP4 via PI3K-Akt pathway, and CIP4 may participate in EMT induced by TGF-β1.

Objective To observe the expression and localization of CIP4 (Cdc42 interacting protein-4) in the renal fibrosis and the effect of CIP4 on the expression of E-cadherin,vimentin and β-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation. Methods In vitro, the human tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cell line) were cultured with 10 μg / L TGF-β1 for 72 h. The protein expressions of CIP4, E-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation were measured by Western blotting; the expression of CIP4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The intracellular distribution of CIP4 was observe by confocal microscope. In vivo, Masson staining was used to evaluate the level of renal fibrosis; the expression and distribution of CIP4 in renal tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. HK-2 cells were transfected with pcDNA3. 1-CIP via lipofectamine 2000. The expressions of E-cadherin, vimentin and β-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation level in the transfected cells were detected by Western blotting. Results The expressions of CIP4 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in renal tubular EMT cells. Most of CIP4 protein localized in cell membrane, and some was in cytoplasm. After stimulation by TGF-β1, the expression of CIP4 protein both in cytoplasm and nucleus was greatly increased (P ＜0.05),especially in cytoplasm. In vivo, CIP4 was expressed in renal tubular epithelia, but little expressed in glomeruli. In renal from 5/6 nephrectomized rats, CIP4 expression was significantly increased. In the CIP4 transfectants, the expression of CIP4, vimentin and β-catenin tyrosine phosphorylation level were up-regulated (P ＜0.05), but E-cadherin expression was suppressed (P ＜0.05).Conclusion The overexpression of CIP4 is likely to take part in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition process, thereby promoting the renal fibrosis.

Recently, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is suggested as a new agent in the fighting against fibrogenesis. In tumor, DJ-1 is identified as a negative regulator of PTEN. But the expression of DJ-1 and the regulation of PTEN in fibrosis are unclear. Renal fibrosis was induced in 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy rat model. Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKC) were treated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1), or transfected with DJ-1 or PTEN. Confocal microscope was used to investigate the localization of DJ-1 and PTEN. The selective phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, was administered to inhibit PI3K pathway. The DJ-1 and PTEN expression, markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Akt phosphorylation were measured by RT-PCR, Western blotting or immunocytochemistry. In vitro, after HKC cells were stimulated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 for 72 h, the expression of DJ-1 was increased, and that of PTEN was decreased. In vivo, the same results were identified in 5/6-nephrectomized rats. In normal HKC cells, most of DJ-1 protein localized in cytoplasm, and little in nucleus. TGF-β1 upregulated DJ-1 expression in both cytoplasma and nuclei. In contrary, TGF-β1 emptied cytoplasmic PTEN protein into nucleus. Overexpression of DJ-1 decreased the expression of PTEN, promoted the activation of Akt and the expression of vimentin, and also led to the loss of cytoplasmic PTEN. Contrarily, overexpression of PTEN protected HKC cells from TGF-β1-induced EMT. In conclusion, DJ-1 is upregulated in renal fibrosis and DJ-1 mediates EMT by suppressing cytoplasmic PTEN expression and Akt activation.

Objective To investigate the effect and the mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal tubular cells induced by uric acid.Methods Normal rat kidney tubular cell line (NRK-52E) were exposed to different concentrations of uric acid (100,200,400,600,800 μmol/L UA) for 48 hours to induce EMT.Morphological changes of the NRK-52E cells were examined under an inverted phase contrast microscope.The protein expression of E-cadherin,α-SMA,p-Akt and Akt were detected by Western blotting.The distribution of E-cadherin and α-SMA were detected by immunofluorescence.NRK-52E cells were pretreated by different concentrations of LY294002(0,2.5,5,10,15 μmol/L),the inhibitor of PI3K/p-Akt signaling pathway,and then processed by uric acid (400 μmol/L) for 48 hours.Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of p-Akt and Akt.NRK-52E cells were then divided into four groups:normal group (N),uric acid group (UA),LY294002 group (LY),uric acid with LY294002 group (UA + LY).The protein expression of E-cadherin and α-SMA were detected by Western blotting,the distribution of E-cadherin,α-SMA and p-Akt were detected by immunofluorescence.Results There was abundant cellular expression of E-cadherin in unstimulated renal tubular cells whereas its expression was significantly decreased in uric acidstimulated cells (P ＜ 0.05).In addition,uric acid induced de novo expression of α-SMA in contrast to almost negative staining in untreated cells (P ＜ 0.05).p-Akt were obviously increased in high uric acid group (P ＜ 0.05) and Akt changed not significantly (P ＞ 0.05).NRK-52E cells transformed into elongated fibroblast-like cells from cuboidal clustered epithelial cells.These indicated that uric acid has induced EMT and activated PI3K/p-Akt signaling pathway in NRK-52E cells.However,the above effects of uric acid were abolished when p-Akt was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor (10,15 μmol/L LY294002),indicated that LY294002 has reversed the trend of EMT.Conclusions High uric acid induces phenotypic transition of renal tubular cells probably via activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

Objective To assess the impact of physical training on physiological function of adult renal transplant recipients by meta-analysis and to provide theoretical guidance for clinical practice.Methods Randomized controlled trials of physical training for the treatment of renal transplant recipients until October 2017 were searched in the database of Cochrane library,PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Wanfang Data and CNKI.Data extracted from the literatures were analyzed with RevMan software (version 5.3).Results A total of 10 studies in 10 manuscripts met the inclusion criteria,and 557 cases were included.Meta-analysis results were as follows.Compared with the control group (routine drug therapy),the level of peak exercise oxygen uptake (peak VO2) was significantly increased in physical training group (routine drug therapy and physical training) (MD=2.40,95％ CI 0.15-4.64,P=0.04).However,there was no statistically significant difference in the change of blood lipid,blood pressure,hemoglobin and serum creatinine between the two groups (all P ＞0.05).Conclusions Physical training can improve cardio respiratory fitness of renal transplant recipients in the early stage,but it has no obvious effect on blood pressure,blood lipid,hemoglobin and blood creatinine.

Recently,phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) is suggested as a new agent in the fighting against fibrogenesis.In tumor,DJ-1 is identified as a negative regulator of PTEN.But the expression of DJ-1 and the regulation of PTEN in fibrosis are unclear.Renal fibrosis was induced in 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy rat model.Human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKC) were treated with transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1),or transfected with DJ-1 or PTEN.Confocal microscope was used to investigate the localization of DJ-1 and PTEN.The selective phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor,LY294002,was administered to inhibit PI3K pathway.The DJ-1 and PTEN expression,markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and Akt phosphorylation were measured by RT-PCR,Western blotting or immunocytochemistry.In vitro,after HKC cells were stimulated with 10 ng/mL TGF-β1 for 72 h,the expression of DJ-1 was increased,and that of PTEN was decreased.In vivo,the same results were identified in 5/6-nephrectomized rats.In normal HKC cells,most of DJ-1 protein localized in cytoplasm,and little in nucleus.TGF-β1 upregulated DJ-1 expression in both cytoplasma and nuclei.In contrary,TGF-β1 emptied cytoplasmic PTEN protein into nucleus.Overexpression of D J-1 decreased the expression of PTEN,promoted the activation of Akt and the expression of vimentin,and also led to the loss of cytoplasmic PTEN.Contrarily,overexpression of PTEN protected HKC cells from TGF-β1-induced EMT.In conclusion,DJ-1 is upregulated in renal fibrosis and DJ-1 mediates EMT by suppressing cytoplasmic PTEN expression and Akt activation.