Effects of spironolactone on aldosterone or high glucose induced CTGF mRNA and protein expression in the glomerular mesangial cells

Aim To study the renoprotective mechnisms of spironolactone(SPI)by observing its effect on the expression of connective tissue growth factor(CTGF)mRNA and protein in rat mesangial cells(MsC)cultured in aldosterone(ALD)or high glucose(HG)induced state.Methods MsC were divided into the following groups:group A,the normal glucose group(NG,5.6 mmol·L~-1 Glu),group B,high glucose group,group C,HG+SPI(10~-9,10~-8,10~-7 mol·L~-1)group,group D,ALD groups(NG+10~-7 mol·L~-1 ALD),group E,ALD+SPI(10~-9,10~-8,10~-7 mol·L~-1)group.The expressions of CTGF mRNA in MsC were detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR,while the levels of CTGF protein in supernatants were measured by ELISA.Results ① MsC expressed CTGF mRNA and protein in normal glucose condition;② The CTGF mRNA in the MsC and CTGF protein values in the supernatant in group B and group D increased significantly compared to group A(P0.05).ALD induced CTGF mRNA and protein expressions of MsC markedly down-regulated in 10~-9,10~-8 and 10~-7 mol·L~-1 SPI-treated group.However,in high glucose condition there was no statistical difference in the levels of CTGF mRNA and protein between group 10~-9 mol·L~-1 SPI-treated group and group B(P0.05).Conclusion Spironolactone can down-regulate the CTGF mRNA and protein expression induced by ALD and HG in glomerlar MsC,which may provide an experimental evidence for further evaluating the possible protective effect of SPI against diabetic nephropathy.