[Effects of piperazine ferulate on TGF-beta1-induced renal interstitial fibroblast activation].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of piperazine ferulate (PF) on TGF-beta1-induced renal interstitial fibroblast activation, and to explore the mechanism of PF in the prevention of renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. METHODS: In cultured normal rat renal kidney fibroblast (NRK-49F), the effect of PF on the TGF-beta1-induced cell vitality was observed by MTT. The protein expression levels of a-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) induced by TGF-beta1 were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. The levels of a-SMA, CTGF mRNA expression induced by TGF-beta1, were determined by quantitative real time fluroscent polymerase chain reaction. The levels of collagen type I (Col I) and fibronectin (FN) protein expression were examined by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay(ELISA). RESULTS: TGF-beta1 may markedly increase the cell vitality, alpha-SMA and CTGF expression, FN and Col I protein expression (P < 0.05). Compared with TGF-beta1-induced group, PF can partly decrease the cell vitality, level of alpha-SMA and CTGF expression and extracellular matrix(ECM) synthesis induced by TGF-beta1 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: PF may inhibit TGF-beta1-induced fibrosis in the renal fibroblast to a certain extent.