Effect of Aldosterone on the Expression of Connective Tissue Growth Factor in Cultured Rat Mesangial Cells

Objective To explore the effect of aldosterone on the expression of CTGF in cultured rat mesangial cells,and whether TGF-β1 was involved in the signaling pathway.Methods Rat glomerular mesangial cells were incubated with aldosterone at different concentrations for 0,12,24,36,48 h,respectively.The expression of CTGF mRNA was determined with RT-PCR,and the expression of TGF-β1 protein was assessed with ELISA.Staurosporine,a Serine/Threonine kinase inhibitor of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway,was used to inhibit CTGF expression.Results The level of CTGF mRNA was significantly increased after exposure to aldosterone,and it was dose-dependent,the expression of TGF-β1 protein was also significantly increased.However,aldosterone could not stimulate the expression of CTGF mRNA with staurosporine pre-treament for 1 h.Conclusion Aldosterone could upregulate the expression of CTGF in cultured rat mesangial cells through TGF-β1/Smads signaling pahtway.