Effect of aldosterone on apoptosis gene of mesangial cells in rats in vitro

Objective Aldosterone is a key factor inducing renal injury in chronic kidney disease( CKD),but the exact mechanism remains unclear. The article aimed to investigate the effects of aldosterone on apoptosis and apoptosis gene P53,Bcl-2 and C-myc of rat mesangial cells in vitro. Methods The mesangial cells in rats were cultured in vitro and were divided into two groups:control group and aldosterone group. The cell toxicity of aldosterone on mesangial cell was determined by Trypan blue method. The effect of aldosterone on mesangial cell morphology were determined by inverted microscope. The effect of aldosterone on mesangial cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. The effect of aldosterone on mesangial cell apoptosis gene P53,Bcl-2 and C-myc was detemined by RT-PCR. Results No obvious cell toxicity was observed when aldosterone was applied at the concentrations of 10-7mol / L,10-6mol / L and 10-5mol / L. No significant change on MC cell morphology was observed in the aldosterone group( 10-6mol / L)by inverted microscope. Compared with the control group,the apoptosis rate of the aldosterone group increased significantly by flow cytometric analysis( [68. 62 ± 1. 77]% vs [32. 87 ± 4. 98]%,P 0. 05). Compared with control group,the relative expression levels of P53 mRNA and C-myc mRNA increased significantly and the relative expression of Bcl-2 mRNA decreased significantly in the aldosterone group( 1. 00 ± 0. 09 vs 2. 82 ± 0. 35,1. 00 ± 0. 12 vs 1. 85 ± 0. 35,1. 00 ± 0. 24 vs 0. 11 ± 0. 01,P 0. 05). Conclusion Aldosterone could induce apoptosis by up-regulating proapoptotic factors P53 mRNA and C-myc mRNA and down-regulating antiapoptotic factor Bcl-2 mRNA. These results suggested that increased mesangial cells apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms promoting ALD-induced renal injury.