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Dipyridamole inhibits TGF-beta-induced collagen gene expression in human peritoneal mesothelial cells
K Y Hung1, C T Chen, J W Huang
1Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Optoelectronic Biomedicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Background:
Peritoneal matrix accumulation is characteristic of peritoneal fibrosis (PF). Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients who had persistent transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) in their drained effluent had an increased risk of PF. We previously reported that TGF-beta stimulates the expression of types I and III collagen mRNA in cultured human peritoneal mesangial cells (HPMCs), which may predispose them to develop PF. Pharmacological interventions to attenuate TGF-beta-stimulated matrix accumulation in HPMC may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of PF. The SMAD family and the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1/2, p44/p42) pathways have been shown to participate in TGF-beta signaling. Our current study identified these signal pathways in HPMCs and investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in the inhibitory effects of dipyridamole on TGF-beta-induced collagen gene expression in HPMCs.
Methods:
HPMCs were cultured from human omentum by an enzyme digestion
Method:
Expression of collagen alpha1(I) mRNA was determined by Northern blotting. The SMAD proteins and the ERK1/2 activity were determined by Western blotting.
Results:
TGF-beta-stimulated collagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression of HPMC was inhibited by dipyridamole in a dose-dependent manner. Smad2 and ERK1/2 were activated in response to TGF-beta; however, TGF-beta had little effect on the protein expression of Smad4. The addition of PD98059, which blocked activation of ERK1/2, suppressed TGF-beta-induced collagen alpha1(I) mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. At a concentration that inhibited collagen gene expression (17 microg/mL), dipyridamole suppressed ERK1/2 activation by TGF-beta. In contrast, the same concentration of dipyridamole had no effect on TGF-beta-induced activation of Smad2.
Conclusion:
Dipyridamole inhibits TGF-beta-induced collagen gene expression in HPMC through modulation of the ERK pathway. Our study of dipyridamole may provide therapeutic basis for clinical applications in the prevention of PF.
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