Effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D_3 on expression of caspase-3 and apoptosis in rat mesangial cells

【Objective】To investigate the the effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on apoptosis of rat glomerular mesangial cell1s(MC) and apoptosis-related protein caspase-3 expression. 【Methods】Rat glomerular mesangial cells were divided into two groups: control group(0 mol/L), different dosesof 1,25(OH)2 D3(10-6mol/L; 10-8mol/L; 10-10mol/L) for different time(24 h and 48 h), the effect of MC apoptosiswasmeasured by flow cytometry; After 24 h, caspase-3 expression in MC was measured by fluorescence microscope and the fluorescent intensity was calculated by image analysis system; RT-PCR was used to observe the expression levels of the mRNA of caspase-3.【Result】 1,25(OH)2 D3 groups werecompared with control group, the apoptosis was promoted significantly. Those changes showed time-dependent and concentration-dependent(P 0.01); Fluorescence microscope and RT-PCR showed control group had the expression of caspase-3 mRNA. Caspase-3 expression increasedwith the concentration of 1,25(OH)2 D3 groups in MC(P 0.01). 【Conclusions】1,25(OH)2 D3 induces mesangial cell apoptosis. Caspase-3 expression in- creasesin a time-dependent and concentration-dependent.