Experimental Study Of Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Up-regulated Growth And Fibronectin Expression In Mesangial Cells

Objective: To investigate the effects of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on cellular growth and fibronectin (FN) expression in glomerular mesangial cells.Methods: rhEPO-induced cellular hypertrophy was quantified by counting cell number and calculating the ratio of cell protein to cell number. Western blot was used to detect the expression of FN induced by rhEPO (1,10,100 and 1000U/ml). In vivo studies, male CD-1 mice were administered rhEPO subcutaneously at a single dose of 1000U/Kg. 24 hours after the injection, the expression of FN was assessed by western blot.Results: (1) rhEPO induced hypertrophy of mesangial cells. (2) rhEPO induced FN expression of mesangial cell in a dose-dependent way. Compared to control, 100U/ml rhEPO enhanced the expression of FN significantly. (3) Indirect immunofluorescence showed that rhEPO induced large amount deposition of FN in the intercellular space of mesangial cells. (4) In vivo studies, there were markedly increase of FN expression in mice received the injection of rhEPO.Conclusion: rhEPO induced glomerular mesangial cells hypertrophy and up-regulated the expression of FN. These results suggested rhEPO could induce dysfunction of renal glomerulus through its influence on the function of mesangial cells.