0.05).Conclusions These results suggest that the polymorphisms of triplet repeat GGC or combination of CAG and GGC of the androgen receptor is signifi- cantly associated with Han men with androgenetic alopecia in the Eastern China. However, genetic polymor- phism of 5?-reductase may not directly associated with androgenetic alopecia in our study population.

Objective To observe the effect of JLP on transdifferentiation of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2),and to investigate the role of p38 MAPK signaling pathway in this process.Methods The knock-down plasmids of JLP were constructed.HK-2 cells were randomly divided into four groups:negative control cells (Ctrl-shRNA group),knock-down jlp cells (jlpshRNA group),negative control cells with FGF-2 treatment (FGF-2 group) and knock-down jlp cells with FGF-2 treatment(jlp-shRNA +FGF-2 group).The expressions of JLP,E-cadherin,TGF-β1,α-SMA,p-p38 MAPK protein were detected by Western blotting.After the induction of FGF-2 for 24 hours,the expressions of α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,FN were detected by immunocytochemistry.Results Compared with Ctrl-shRNA group,the expression of JLP protein was significantly down-regulated in FGF-2 group.Compared with FGF-2 group,the expressions of TGF-β1,α-SMA,p-p38 MAPK protein were significantly up-regulated,while E-cadherin protein was significantly down-regulated (P ＜ 0.05).Compared with FGF-2 group,the expressions of α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,FN immunostaining increased markedly in jlp-shRNA+FGF-2 group.Conclusion Scaffolding protein JLP is critical in preventing EMT in the course of fibrosis through the inhibition of p-p38 activation in HK-2 cells.

Objective To observe the effect of JLP deficiency on the progression of renal interstitial fibrosis in mice model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO),and to investigate the role and underlying mechanism of JLP in the development of renal fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy.Methods jlp Wild type (jlp+/+) and jlp deficient (jlp-/-) mice were divided into four groups:jlp+/+-and jlp-/--sham-operated groups(jlp-/--sham group and jlp+/+-sham group),jlp+/+-and jlp-/--unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-operated groups (jlp/--UUO group and jlp+/+-UUO group).Mice were sacrificed at 7 days and 14 days after the operation respectively to evaluate the fibrosis by Masson staining.The expression of JLP in jlp +/+ renal tissue was assayed by immunohistochemistry staining,immunofluorescence and Western blotting.Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA),collagen Ⅰ (COL-Ⅰ),collagen Ⅲ (COL-Ⅲ) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in sham and UUO groups.Besides,the α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,TGF-β1,p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 protein levels were also analyzed by Western blotting in four groups.Results The expression of JLP was mainly demonstrated in the renal tubules of mice.A large amount of collagen deposition was observed in the renal interstitial area in jlp-/--UUO group compared to jlp+/+-UUO group.Similarly,the expression of α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ and TGF-β1 was significantly increased in the kidney cortices in jlp-/--UUO-operated groups.Meanwhile,Western blotting showed that the expression of α-SMA,COL-Ⅰ,COL-Ⅲ,and TGF-β1 protein was obviously higher in jlp-/--UUO group.Moreover,the expression of p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 protein was markedly higher in jlp-/--UUO group.Conclusion Scaffolding protein JLP is critical in preventing renal fibrosis through the inhibition of TGF-β1 expression and myo-fibroblast production.