Changes of mobility of kidney tubular epithelial cells in the course of epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Objective To evaluate the dynamic changes of cell mobility of renal tubular epithelial cells in the course of epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) and their effect on cell cycle. Methods NRK-52E cells were cultured in vitro and treated with 5 μg/L transforming growth factor(TGF)-β1 to induce EMT.The cell mobility was assessed by using Transwell chamber assay and flow cytometry(FCW) after being treated with TGF-β1 for 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. The proliferative cell cycle of NRK-52E cells were evaluated by using the FCW. Results 1.EMT was successfully induced by TGF-β1.After being treated by TGF-β1(5 μg/L), the morphological changes of NRK-52E cells were found with loose cell arrangement and elongated fusiform change in cells body.Meanwhile, after getting treated by TGF-β1, the expressions of E-cadherin protein(epithelial marker) of NRK-52E cells were significantly decreased with time-dependent(P 0.05). Conclusions The migration ability of the NRK-52E cells are increased incessantly in the course of EMT, which is induced by TGF-β1 without the influence of cell proliferation in vitro. Key words: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition; Renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis; Chronic kidney disease; Transforming growth factor-β1; Cell cycle