Rat Mesangial Cells (rat + mesangial_cell)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


High glucose levels upregulate upstream stimulatory factor 2 gene transcription in mesangial cells

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2008
Lihua Shi
Abstract Previously, we demonstrated that upstream stimulatory factor 2 (USF2) mediates high glucose-induced thrombospondin1 (TSP1) gene expression and TGF-, activity in glomerular mesangial cells and plays a role in diabetic renal complications. In the present studies, we further determined the molecular mechanisms by which high glucose levels regulate USF2 gene expression. In primary rat mesangial cells, we found that glucose treatment time and dose-dependently up-regulated USF2 expression (mRNA and protein). By using cycloheximide to block the de novo protein synthesis, similar rate of USF2 degradation was found under either normal glucose or high glucose conditions. USF2 mRNA stability was not altered by high glucose treatment. Furthermore, high glucose treatment stimulated USF2 gene promoter activity. By using the luciferase-promoter deletion assay, site-directed mutagenesis, and transactivation assay, we identified a glucose-responsive element in the USF2 gene promoter (,1,740 to ,1,620, relative to the transcription start site) and demonstrated that glucose-induced USF2 expression is mediated through a cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-dependent transactivation of the USF2 promoter. Furthermore, siRNA-mediated CREB knock down abolished glucose-induced USF2 expression. Taken together, these data indicate that high glucose levels up-regulate USF2 gene transcription in mesangial cells through CREB-dependent transactivation of the USF2 promoter. J. Cell. Biochem. 103: 1952,1961, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


p38, MAP kinase protects rat mesangial cells from TNF-,-induced apoptosis

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2001
Yan-Lin Guo
Abstract p38 MAP kinases (p38) and c-Jun N-terminal protein kinases (JNK) have been associated with TNF-,-induced apoptosis. However, recent studies indicate that an early but brief activation of JNK and/or p38 may actually protect some cells from TNF-,-induced apoptosis. Whether the activation of JNK and p38 provides a pro- or anti-apoptotic signal for TNF-, has been controversial. In this study, we investigated the role of p38 in the regulation of TNF-, cytotoxicity in rat mesangial cells. Treatment of the cells with TNF-, alone had little effect on their viability, but they became very sensitive to apoptosis when treated with TNF-, in the presence of the p38 inhibitor SB 203580. These results suggested that the p38 pathway is critical for mesangial cells to survive the toxic effect of TNF-,. Using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer technique, we further demonstrated that p38,, but not p38,, is essential to protect the cells from TNF-, toxicity. It has been speculated that there is a synergetic interaction between the p38 and the nuclear factor-,B (NF-,B) pathways in protecting certain cells from apoptosis. However, expression of neither p38, nor its dominant negative mutant in mesangial cells interfered with TNF-,-induced translocation of NF-,B, the initial step of NF-,B activation. While it is unclear whether p38, regulates NF-,B transcription activity at other steps, it is apparent that p38, does not affect TNF-,-induced NF-,B activation at the stage of nuclear translocation. J. Cell. Biochem. 82: 556,565, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Mangiferin prevents diabetic nephropathy progression in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2010
Xuan Li
Abstract Diabetic nephropathy is one of the most severe diabetic microangiopathies and accounting for approximately one-third of all cases of end-stage renal disease. In the present study, we investigated the effect of mangiferin, a polyphenol from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. or Mangifera indica L., on diabetic nephropathy and the possible mechanisms by using a developed diabetic nephropathy rat model and cultured rat mesangial cells. Serum-advanced glycation end-products level, malonaldehyde level, sorbitol concentration of red blood cell, 24,h albuminuria excretion were significantly decreased, whereas activity of serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and creatinine clearance rate were increased by mangiferin. Blood glucose level remained unaffected. Mangiferin significantly inhibited glomerular extracellular matrix expansion and accumulation and transforming growth factor-beta 1 overexpression in glomeruli of diabetic nephropathy rats. Moreover, mangiferin was observed to inhibit proliferation of mesangial cells induced by high glucose and the overexpression of collagen type IV of mesangial cells induced by advanced glycation end products. In summary, mangiferin could significantly prevent progression of diabetic nephropathy and improve renal function. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Dilazep, a nucleoside transporter inhibitor, modulates cell cycle progression and DNA synthesis in rat mesangial cells in vitro

CELL PROLIFERATION, Issue 1 2000
T. Sakumura
The direct effects of the nucleoside transporter inhibitor dilazep on the cell cycle of mesangial cells have not before been investigated. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether dilazep can inhibit the proliferation of mesangial cells and how it interferes with the cell cycle of these cells. DNA histograms were used and BrdUrd uptake rate was measured by flow cytometry. There was no significant difference in the cell numbers among the untreated group and the 10,5M, 10,6M or 10,7M dilazep-treated groups at 24 h of incubation. However, at 48 and 72 h, the cell numbers in the dilazep-treated groups were significantly lower compared with that of the untreated group (P0.005). The DNA histograms of cultured rat mesangial cells at 12, 24, and 48 h of incubation with 10,5 M dilazep showed that the ratio of the S phase population in the dilazep-treated group decreased by 2.2% at 12 h, by 9.6% at 24 h, and by 18.9% at 48 h compared with the untreated group. The ratio of the G0/G1 phase population in the dilazep-treated group significantly increased: 6.8% at 12h (P 0.05), 13.9% at 24 h (P 0.001), and 76.5% at 48 h (P 0.001) compared with the untreated group. A flow cytometric measurement of bivariate DNA/BrdUrd distribution demonstrated that the DNA synthesis rate in the S phase decreased after 6 h (P 0.005) and 12 h (P 0.05) of incubation compared with the untreated group. These results suggest that dilazep inhibits the proliferation of cultured rat mesangial cells by suppressing the G1/S transition by prolonging G2/M and through decreasing the DNA synthesis rate [source]