[Effects of exogenous connective tissue growth factor on collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of exogenous connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK2 in vitro. METHODS: Cultured HK2 cells were randomly assigned to three groups: placebo-control, low-dose CTGF-treated (2.5 ng/mL) and high-dose CTGF-treated groups (20 ng/mL). Cell morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Collagen III alpha mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the levels of intracellular collagen III alpha protein. RESULTS: After 48 hrs of low- or high- dose CTGF treatment, the appearances of HK2 cells were changed from oval to fusiform. High-dose CTGF treatment increased collagen III alpha mRNA expression (0.4461+/-0.0274 vs 0.2999+/-0.0115; P<0.05) as well as the protein expression of collagen III alpha (0.4075+/-0.0071 vs 0.3503+/-0.0136; P<0.05) compared with the placebo-control group. CONCLUSIONS: CTGF can induce morphological changes of human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. High concentration of CTGF may increase the synthesis of collagen III alpha.