Potential signal pathway between all-trans retinoic acid and LMX1B in hypoxia-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury

Abstract

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, exerts various effects on physiological processes such as cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis and inflammation. LMX1B, a developmental LIM-homeodomain transcription factor, is widely expressed in vertebrate embryos, and it takes part in the development of diverse structures such as limbs, kidneys, eyes, brains, etc. Renal tubular epithelial cell culture was performed, and mRNA and protein expression of some factors were detected. We recently demonstrated that ATRA up-regulated the LMX1B, and down-regulated the transforming growth factor-β1, collagen IV and fibronectin in a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H-R) injury system in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTEC). In conclusion, ATRA acts as a positive regulator of LMX1B in H-R RTEC.