TGF-beta1 mRNA Expression Levels Research Articles

Protective effects of Hirsutella sinensis on renal interstitial fibrosis: experiment with rat model of chronic aristolochic acid nephropathy

To study the protective effects of Hirsutella sinensis on renal interstitial fibrosis in chronic aristolochic acid nephropathy (CAAN). Eighteen male SD rats were divided into 3 equal groups: model group, given the extract of Aristolochia manshuriensis Kom (AmK) by gavage in the morning everyday for 12 weeks, intervention group, given the extract of Amk in the morning and suspension of Hirsutella sinensis in the afternoon by gavage once a day for 12 weeks, and control group, receiving tap water only by gavage. Bodyweight, urinary glucose, 24 h urinary protein excretion, and serum creatinine (SCr) were measured at the ends of the 1st, 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks respectively. At the end of the 12th week, all the rats were sacrificed with their kidneys taken out to undergo pathological examination. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and type I collagen (ColI) in the kidney tissues. Since the 1st week, the urinary protein excretion and SCr levels in the model group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01 or 0.05). At the end of the 12th week, the relative area of interstitial fibrosis of the model group was significantly enlarged (P < 0.01). The mRNA expression levels of TGF-beta1, CTGF, PAI-1, TIMP-1, and ColI in the model group were up-regulated by 4.19, 2.66, 6.12, 3.09, and 7.03 times respectively, and their protein expression levels were up-regulated by 2.31, 3.53, 3.17, 3.18, and 6.87 times respectively (all P < 0.01). By the end of the 12th week, the urinary protein excretion, SCr level and the relative area of interstitial fibrosis in the intervention group were all significantly lower than those in the model group (all P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels of TGF-beta, CTGF, PAI-1, TIMP-1, and ColIof the intervention group were all significantly lower than those of the model group (all P < 0.05) with the inhibition rates of 45%, 41%, 47%, 48%, and the protein expression levels of TGF-beta, CTGF, PAI-1, TIMP-1, and ColI of the intervention group were all significantly lower than those of the model group (all P < 0.05) with the inhibition rates of 38%, 39%, 49%, 46%, and 61% respectively. Hirsutella sinensis can inhibit the production of TGF-beta1 and CTGF, factors that promote the extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and TIMP-1 and PAI-1, factors that antagonize ECM degradation in kidney tissues, thus alleviating renal interstitial fibrosis and improving renal function in CAAN.

The expression of periostin in hyperplasic scars and the relations to TGF-beta1 and its receptors

To probe into periostin's role in the pathological mechanism of hyperplasic scars, by examining the expression of periostin in hyperplasic scar tissues. To investigate the correlations between periostin and TGF-beta1, TGF-beta R I, TGF-beta R II. RT-PCR was used to assess the mRNA expression levels of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta R I, TGF-beta R II in three kinds of tissues, which are keloid (K), hypertrophic scar (HS) and normal skin (SK). The protein expression of periostin was measured with Western blotting. The mRNA level of periostin in K was higher than that in SK. The mRNA expression of TGF-beta1 in K was higher than that in HS and SK. The mRNA level of TGF-beta R I in K was higher than that in HS and SK. The significances above all was at P < 0.01. The protein expression level of periostin in HS increased, compared with that in SK (P < 0.05). Periostin was related to TGF-beta1 positively (P <0.01). The periostin's expression is increased in keloids. Periostin is a cicatrix specific gene. Periostin appears to play an important role in the formation of keloids, which is related to TGF-beta1 closely.

Protein and mRNA expression levels of VEGF-A and TGF-β1 in different types of human coronary atherosclerotic lesions

It is well documented that inflammation plays a major role in the establishment and progression of atherosclerosis. Endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and monocytes/macrophages are involved in this process by expressing inflammatory factors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate potential association and risk of VEGF-A and TGF-beta1 in human coronary atherosclerotic lesions. Twenty-six fresh human coronary artery segments were collected at autopsy. Conventional histology was performed and samples were classified into: no lesion group (NL), fatty streak group (FS), plaque group (P) and complicated lesion group (CL) based on the atherosclerotic lesion type. RNA extraction-analysis with RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry was also performed. We observed that VEGF-A protein and mRNA expression increased during atherogenesis. The expression levels (protein and mRNA levels) of TGF-beta1 were decreased from NL to the FS group while, strong protein-staining and signal of mRNA expression in P and CL groups were observed. Our findings suggest a crucial role of VEGF-A in the development of coronary artery disease. The high protein and mRNA expression levels of TGF-beta1 in P and CL suggest that this factor may be implicated in the deposition of excessive extracellular matrix in the intima of the vessel wall, contributing to the expansion of the atheromatic plaque.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases in cyclosporin-treated gingival fibroblasts is regulated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 autocrine stimulation.

Gingival overgrowth is a common side effect following the administration of cyclosporin A (CsA). The pathogenesis of this condition is not fully understood; however, recent studies show that CsA regulates the transcription of several cytokines including transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). The aim of this study was to investigate the potential role of TGF-beta1 in the pathogenesis of CsA-induced gingival overgrowth, exploring a possible autocrine stimulation of TGF-beta1 as a cellular regulator of synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and its tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). Gingival fibroblasts from human normal gingiva were incubated with increasing concentrations of CsA, cultured for 24 hours, and the expression and production of TGF-beta1 determined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. MMP and TIMP mRNA expression levels were also analyzed by RT-PCR. To determine the effect of TGF-beta1 on the expression of MMP and TIMP by human gingival fibroblasts under CsA treatment, human gingival fibroblast cultures were treated with sense oligonucleotides (SON) or antisense oligonucleotides (AON). CsA simultaneously stimulated TGF-beta1 expression and production and inhibited expression of MMP-1 and MMP-2 by human gingival fibroblasts, whereas CsA has a slight effect on TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression. AON reduced TGF-beta1 production as demonstrated by ELISA, whereas TGF-beta1 mRNA expression levels were not significantly modified. The inhibition of TGF-beta1 production by AON modulated MMP expression, demonstrating the autocrine inhibitory effect of TGF-beta1 in CsA-treated human gingival fibroblasts. The data presented here suggest that TGF-beta1 in an autocrine fashion may contribute to a reduction of proteolytic activity of human gingival fibroblasts in CsA-induced gingival overgrowth, which favors the accumulation of extracellular matrix.