Induction of connective tissue growth factor mRNA expression by advanced glycosylation end products in cultured rat renal mesangial cells

AIM: To explore the effects of advanced gly cosyla tion end products (AGEs) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA expressi on and extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis in cultured rat renal mesangial cel ls. METHODS: Rat renal mesangial cells were cultured in vitro un der standard conditions. The content of fibronectin (FN) and type Ⅳ collagen (ColⅣ ) were determined with ELISA after stimulation by AGE-BSA and BSA, respectively. CTGF mRNA expression was assessed by RT-PCR. RESULTS: CTGF mRNA was significantly increased by AGE-BSA in cul tured mesangial cells in a time-and dose-dependent manner compared with BSA cont rol (P0.05). Synthesis of FN and Col Ⅳ was upregulated by AGE-BSA treatm ent in cultured rat mesangial cells (P0.05), which was positively correlat e d with CTGF mRNA expression level. CONCLUSIONS: AGEs significantly upregulate CTGF mRNA expression in cultured mesangial cells, suggesting that AGEs induce ECM accumulation by up regulating CTGF mRNA expression.