Effect of Intermittent High Glucose on Tubular Epithelial Myofibroblast Transdiferentiation in HK-2 Cells

Abstract: The effects of intermittent high glucose on Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in tubular epithelial myofibroblast transdiferentiation in human kidney proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) cells were studied. HK-2 cells were divided into four groups: normal-glucose group (NG)， mannitol control group (NG+M)， intermittent high glucose group (FHG) and constant high glucose group (HG). Immunocytochemistry staining was used to observe the expression of β-catenin. The protein expression of β-catenin， CK18， E-cadherin and α-SMA was assessed by Western blot. Intermittent high glucose compared with mannitol control group， E-cadherin down-regulated striking in HK-2 (P<0.01); intermittent high glucose compared with constant high glucose E-cadherin was decreased (P<0.05). The expression of cytoplastic and nuclear fraction of β-catenin was enhanced by intermittent high glucose. The expression of α-SMA and CK18 was significantly increased in intermittent high glucose stimulation compared with constant high glucose (P<0.05). These data suggested that Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a functional role for tubular epithelial myofibroblast transdiferentiation in HK-2 cells induced by intermittent high glucose. Compared with the constant high glucose group， intermittent high glucose has much more strong damaged effects on kidney.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2012.07.0009