Influence on the expression of type I and type II transforming growth factor-β receptors in cultured rat mesangial cells transfected by decorin gene

Objective To explore whether the antagonistic effect of decorin (DCN)on progression of glomeruloselerosis is associated with the inhibition of the expression of type I and type II transforming growth factor-β receptors (TGF-βR I and TGF-βR II )in mesangial cells (MsC). Methods RT-RCR and Western blot analysis were used to detect the expression of TGF-βR I and TGF-βR II mRNA and their proteins on cultured rat MsC stimulated by exogenous TGF-β1. Lipofectin-mediated method was used to transfect DCN vector into MsC. After screening and identifying of transfected MsC, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were adapted to detect the changes of TGF-βR I and TGF-βR II expression respectively. Results The expression of TGF-βR I and TGF-βR II mRNA and their proteins on normal MsC stimulated by exogenous TGF-β1 increased in time-dependent manner and reached the peak at 24th hour. Compared with normal and untransfected MsC (1P-1), the mRNA and protein expression of TGF-βR I and TGF-βR II on MsC (3D-5, 7D-1) transfecled by DCN gene decreased significantly, and DCN gene transfection could antagonize the increase of mRNA and protein expression of both receptors caused by exogenous TGF-β1. Conclusions The expression of both TGF-βR I and TGF-βR II decreases obviously in MsC overexpressing DCN gene, which may be one of the importan antagonistic mechanisms of decorin involved in the development of glomeruloselerosis mediated by TGF-β.