Changes of fibronectin and type IV collagen expression in cultured rat mesangial cells transfected with connective tissue growth factor expression vector / 中华病理学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the development of glomerulosclerosis by experimental alteration of fibronectin (FN) and Type IV collagen (Col IV) expression in cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CTGF expression vector was transfected into MsC by Lipofectimine method. Protein and mRNA expression levels of CTGF, FN and Col IV were studied by Western blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two of MsC clones (MCT-1 and MCT-2) with CTGF overexpression were successfully established and found to have significant increases of FN and Col IV at both protein and mRNA levels. Compared with the controls, the expression of FN protein and mRNA in the two clones were 3.2 times (P < 0.05) and 2.9 times (P < 0.05) higher respectively. The expression of Col IV protein and mRNA was 3.8 times (P < 0.01) and 2.4 times (P < 0.01) higher respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CTGF up-regulates FN and Col IV expression in MsC and may play an important role in the development of glomerulosclerosis.</p>