Effect of glucose on TGF-beta 1 expression in peritoneal mesothelial cells

The peritoneum's response to peritoneal dialysis is a complex and poorly understood process that can result in fibrosis. The transforming growth factor beta(TGF-beta 1) plays a central role in regulating tissue repair and remodeling after injury. To determine the role of mesothelial cells during peritoneal dialysis in the alteration of the peritoneum, we studied the effect of glucose on TGF-beta 1 expression by mesothelial cells. Human mesothelial cells were cultured in serum-free DMEM with different glucose concentrations for 48 hours. TGF-beta 1 messenger (mRNA) was measured by slot-blot hybridization using a TGF-beta 1 cDNA probe. The result was that glucose stimulates TGF-beta 1 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent way. The expression was more profound in high glucose concentrations. This suggests that TGF-beta 1 mRNA may overexpress by mesothelial cells due to the procedure of dialysis, which may be the most important mechanism of alteration of the peritoneum during peritoneal dialysis.