EFFECT OF QUERCETIN ADMINISTRATION ON TRANSDIFFERENTIATION OF GLOMERULAR PODOCYTES TO MESENCHYMAL CELLS INDUCED BY TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR

Jing Yang^{1, 2}, Kai Liu¹, Enlai Dai^{1, *}

¹Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, China - ²Lanzhou University second hospital, Lanzhou, 730000, China

Objective: The inhibitory effect of quercetin (Qu) on transforming growth factor - β 1(TGF-β1)induced glomerular podocyte transdifferentiation (EMT) was analyzed.

Methods: The in vitro primary cultured podocytes were divided into five groups using the random method. The control group was cultured in the normal mode. The model group was induced by TGF-β1 for 48 hours. Experimental group A was induced by quercetin for 24 hours, and subsequently induced by TGF-β1. At 24 hours, experimental group B was induced by quercetin and TGF-β1 for 48 hours. Experimental group C was induced by TGF-β1 for 24 hours, and subsequently treated with quercetin for 24 hours. The morphological changes of podocytes were observed under confocal laser microscopy. The expression of TGF-β1, ncphrin, WT-1, vimentin and α-SMA in podocytes were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and double staining flow cytometry. 

Results: Compared with the control group, the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 increased in the model group, when compared to the control group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 decreased in experimental groups A, B and C, when compared to the model group (P<0.05). Compared to the control group, the podocyte index growth slowed down, and the total cell apoptosis rate increased. However, when the podocyte index increased, the total cell apoptosis rate decreased in experimental groups A, B and C (P<0.05). Compared to the model group, the expression levels of podocyte marker proteins ncphrin and WT-1 increased, the expression levels of EMT marker proteins vimentin and α-SMA decreased (P<0.05), and the protein of experimental group A was tested. The expression is optimally improved.

Conclusion: Quercetin can reduce the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 induced by TGF-β1 and the expression levels of EMT marker proteins α-SMA and vimentin, increase the expression of podocyte marker proteins ncphrin and WT-1, and inhibit podocyte orientation. Furthermore, mesenchymal cells are transdifferentiated.