Pawluczyk IZA, Harris KPG. Effect of angiotensin type 2 receptor over-expression on the rat mesangial cell fibrotic phenotype: effect of gender.
J Renin Angiotensin Aldosterone Syst 2012;
13:221-31. [PMID:
22287496 DOI:
10.1177/1470320311432185]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM
The protective role of angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2-Rs) is still controversial. As AT2-Rs are minimally expressed in adult tissues the aim of the current study was to over-express AT2-Rs in rat mesangial cells in order to ascertain their potential role in modulating renal scarring.
METHODS
Male and female mesangial cells were transiently transfected with AT2-R or control vector then 'injured' with macrophage-conditioned medium (MCM). Culture supernatants and extracted RNA were analysed for evidence of an anti-fibrotic phenotype.
RESULTS
Supernatant fibronectin levels in female mesangial cells treated with MCM were reduced in AT2-R transfected cells (p < 0.001) compared to controls. AT2-R transfected male cells showed a trend towards lower constitutive fibronectin levels. There was no effect of AT2-R transfection on TGF-β or TNF-α secretion; however, IL-1β levels were reduced in male cells treated with MCM. RT-PCR demonstrated that constitutive kallikrein mRNA levels were suppressed in both male and female AT2-R transfected cells. Bradykinin receptors (BkB2-R and BkB1-R) were unaffected in female cells although the BkB1-R was upregulated in male cells treated with MCM.
CONCLUSION
This data provides a case for AT2 receptors playing a protective role in rat mesangial cells independent of the effects of blood pressure control.
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