Objective To study the gene and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and its inhibitors TIMP1 and TIMP2 in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC), and the possible role of high glucose in submesothelial extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation during peritoneal dialysis (PD) . Methods Primary HPMC was isolated from spent peritoneal dialysis effluent collected from PD patients. After HPMC confluence, the cells were detached by trypsinization and passaged into 25 cm2 tissue-culture flasks. The effect of high glucose and hyperosmolarity on the gene expression of MMP2, TIMP1 and TIMP2 in HPMC was studied by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry and zymography were used to measure the protein expression of MMP/TIMP in HPMC. Results HPMC expressed MMP2, TIMP1, TIMP2 at both gene and protein levels. 4. 25% glucose significantly up-regulated TIMP1 gene expression in HPMC( P

Objective To investigate if the mechanism of high glucose and losartan in mediating the expression of Smad in human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) and the possible management of HPMC. Methods Peritoneum was obtained from patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. HPMCs were incubated in medium containing different concentrations of dextrose, mannitol (1. 5%, 2. 5% , 4. 25% ) and combination with dextrose and losartan. TGF-?1 in supernatant was detected by ELISA and HPMCs were collected to examine Smad family expression with RT-PCR and Western Blot. Results (1) High glucose up-regulated the expression of Smad 2 at both gene and protein levels, especially in 2. 5% and 4. 25% dextrose groups (P