Role of P311 in interleukin-1α-induced epithelial to myofibroblast transition in kidney tubular epithelial cells

Abstract

Tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transition (TEMT) is an important process in renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) have been demonstrated to be key inducers of TEMT. In mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH3T3), P311 protein induces phenotypic changes that are consistent to myofibroblast transformation. In the present study, we investigated the role of P311 gene and protein as well as potential mechanisms underlying TEMT in normal rat kidney tubular epithelial cells (NRK52E). Morphological and molecular changes were determined in NRK52E cells that were treated with IL-1α and/or P311 antibodies. The results showed that the NRK52E cells triggered by IL-1α became fibroblast-like cells, exhibiting hypertrophy of elongated and fusiform-shaped cells. IL-1α induced a time-dependent increase in P311 gene expression in NRK52E cells, with a peak time at 4 days. The expression levels of P311 gene were positively correlated with α-SMA and TGF-β1 gene expression levels. Anti-P311 antibody inhibited P311 and α-SMA expression in the presence of IL-1α. In contrast, anti-P311 antibody increased the expression of TGF-β1 gene in cells cultured with IL-1α. Therefore, P311 gene, together with α-SMA and TGF-β1 genes, was induced in the process of TEMT. P311 protein triggered by interleukin-1α may promote TEMT through a TGF-β1-independent pathway.

• α-Smooth muscle actin
• interleukin-1α
• P311
• transforming growth factor-β1
• tubular epithelial-myofibroblast transition

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. Xian-ming Mo and Wen-tong Meng of Sichuan University, Huaxi Hospital Stem Cell Lab for technical advice.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

This work was supported by Basic Research Program of Sichuan Scientific committee (No. 0040205301280) and National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2007CB947802).