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Updated: May 20, 2026

Assessment of Mitochondrial Functions and Cell Viability in Renal Cells Overexpressing Protein Kinase C Isozymes
Published on: January 7, 2013
[Effects of lead on protein kinase C expression in U251 cell line]
Zhong-hui Liu1, Feng-shan Wang, Tong Guan
1Tianjin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China.
Objective:
To observe the effects of lead on mRNA and protein expression of PKC in U251 cell line.
Methods:
After U251 cells were exposed to 0.05, 0.50, 5.00, 50.00, 500.00, 900.00 and 1000.00 micromol/L Ph(Ac)2 for 24 hours, the cytotoxicity of Pb on U251 cells was measured by MTT assay. RT-PCR and Western blot assay were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of PKC in U251 cells exposed to 0.05, 5.00 and 500.00 micromol/L Ph (Ac), for 24 hours.
Results:
The survival rates of U251 cells treated with 5.00, 50.00, 500.00, 900.00 and 1000.00 micromol/L Pb (Ac)2 were 84.5%, 78.2%, 76.5%, 50.3% and 43.2%, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of control group (P < 0.01). The PKC mRNA expression level (0.40 +/- 0.01) of U251 cells treated with 500.00 micromol/L Pb (Ac)2 was significantly lower than that (0.51 +/- 0.02) of control group (P < 0.01). The PKC protein expression levels of U251 cells treated with 0.05, 5.00 or 500.00 micromol/L Pb(Ac)2 were 0.68 +/- 0.02, 0.62 +/- 0.01 and 0.33 +/- 0.02, respectively, which were significantly lower (0.98 +/- 0.01) than those of control group (P < 0.01).
Conclusion:
Lead can decline the cell viability, PKC mRNA and protein expression levels of U251 cells.
