ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of Ligustrazine (LGZ) affecting the expression of CD40 on mesothelial cells (MC). METHODS: Rat's peritoneal MC isolated from peritoneal cavity were cultured and maintained under the defined conditions in vitro. They were cultured with 4.25% peritoneal dialysis solution (PDS), 4.25% PDS added LGZ (40 mg/L), 4.25% PDS added IFN-gamma (100 u/ml) and 4.25% PDS added IFN-gamma and LGZ for 30 min, the DMEM/F12 cultural medium was taken as control. The expression of CD40 on MC was detected by reverse transcript polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and flow cytometry analysis. RESULTS: MC cultured in vitro expressed CD40 markedly, the expression of CD40 mRNA and its protein was markedly up-regulated following stimulation with 4.25% PDS or IFN-gamma and 4.25% PDS. LGZ (40 mg/L) could reduce the expression of CD40 mRNA and its protein significantly as it was added in 4.25% PDS and 4.25% PDS with IFN-gamma. CONCLUSION: The PDS stimulates the expression of CD40 on MC. LGZ has the function of down-regulating the expression of CD40 on MC. During long-term continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, it might be helpful to alleviate chronic inflammatory reaction by adding LGZ into standard PDS, therefore prevent or retard the occurence and development of peritoneal fibrosis.