Effects of RGD tripeptide on the expression of FAK and HA in glomerular mesangial cells

Objective Observing the effects of Arg-Gly-Asp(RGD) peptides on the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs), and on the expression of focal adheshion kinase (FAK) and hyaluronic acid (HA) in GMCs. Methods GMCs of rats were induced with RGD peptide in vitro. The proliferation of GMCs was measured by MTT; the expression of FAK, by immunohistochemistry; and the quantity of HA, by radioimmunoassay. Results After being incubated with RGD peptides, some of the attached GMCs became round, detached, and floated. As compared with the control, the proliferation (A value) of the induced with RGD peptide GMCs was significantly lower. After the cultured GMCs had been induced with RGD (1 mmol/L) for 24 h, the expression of FAK decreased by 3.10%, and the secretion of HA decreased by 5.64%. After the cultured GMCs had been incubated with RGD (4 mmol/L) for 8 h and 24 h, the expression of FAK decreased by 6.50% and 15.95%, and the secretion of HA decreased by 6.37% and 18.43%, respectively. Conclusion RGD peptides can inhibit the attachment of the cultured GMCs, reduce the proliferation of GMCs and decrease the secretion of the extracellular matrix.