Effect of hepatocyte growth factor on human renal tubular epithelial cells induced by high glucose and connective tissue growth factor

Objective: To investigate the protective effect of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) on human renal tubular epithelial cells induced by high glucose and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF). Methods: Different concentrations of rhHGF were added into the cullure media containing glucose and CTGF respectively. The expression of TGF-β1, CTGF,and collagen IV A1(COL4A1),fibronectin(FN),α-smooth muscwlar actin(α-SMA) mRNA were measured by RT-PCR. Results: The cytokines and fibrosis indexes were elevated at different levels after the HKC were incubated with high glucose and CTGF, and expression of COL4A1 was significantly higher in high glucose group compared with CTGF group. The fibrosis indexes were decreased significantly in rhHGF-treated group. The expression of CTGF was down-regulated and that of TGF-β1 remained unchanged in high glucose and rhHGF group. Conclusion: HGF can inhibit the fibrosis of human renal tubular epithelial cells via suppressing the synthesis of CTGF, but other independent pathway still exists.