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2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (1): 96-100High glucose induces high expression of stem cell factor in human renal tubular epithelial cellsXu Xueling1, Liu Jun1, Yang Aihua2, Wang Huifang1, Guo Dandan1, Liu Xuemei1, Xu Yan1
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Diabetic kidney disease is one of the most serious and common chronic complications of diabetes. It has become an important cause of end-stage renal failure. However, the exact mechanism of its occurrence and development is still unclear, and precise and effective prevention and treatment measures are lacking. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of hypertonic glucose on the phenotype changes of human renal tubular epithelial cells and the expression of stem cell factor. METHODS: Human renal tubular epithelial cells were cultured in vitro and divided into normal glucose group, high glucose stimulation group, and mannitol control group. The cells of each group were separately collected at 0, 12, 24 and 48 hours for detection. The cell morphology was observed under an inverted microscope. Real-time quantitative PCR and western blot assay were used to detect the expression of mRNA and protein of stem cell factor, α-smooth muscle actin, type I collagen, and fibronectin. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Compared with the normal glucose group, the renal tubular epithelial cell morphology of the high glucose stimulation group changed significantly, but the cell morphology of the mannitol control group did not change significantly compared with renal tubular epithelial cells that grow normally. (2) The expression levels of mRNAs and proteins of stem cell factor, α-smooth muscle actin, type I collagen, and fibronectin of renal tubular epithelial cells in high glucose stimulation group were significantly higher than those of the normal glucose group, and increased in a time-dependent manner. (3) The expression levels of stem cell factor mRNA and protein in renal tubular epithelial cells were positively correlated with α-smooth muscle actin, type I collagen, and fibronectin. (4) These findings indicate that hypertonic glucose can up-regulate the expression of stem cell factor in renal tubular epithelial cells in a time-dependent way, meanwhile up-regulating the expression of α-smooth muscle actin, type I collagen and fibronectin, indicating that hypertonic glucose stimulates the transdifferentiation of renal tubular epithelial cells and the production of a large number of extracellular matrix, which promotes renal interstitial fibrosis. Key words:renal tubular epithelial cell, stem cell factor, extracellular matrix, renal interstitial fibrosis, diabetic kidney disease, high glucose |