Research Article

Effect of TIMP1 transfection on PTEN expression in human kidney proximal tubular cells

Published: December 21, 2015
Genet. Mol. Res. 14 (4) : 17373-17383 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.December.21.6
Cite this Article:
J.X. Chen, G.Y. Cai, X.M. Chen, H. Liu, X. Chen, Y.M. Peng, F.Y. Liu, Z. Li, S.Z. Shi (2015). Effect of TIMP1 transfection on PTEN expression in human kidney proximal tubular cells. Genet. Mol. Res. 14(4): 17373-17383. https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.December.21.6
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Abstract

To explore the role of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) tissue inhibitor in the mechanisms of kidney aging, we observed the effects of sense and antisense transfection of TIMP-1 and of metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors on phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Flk-1 expression in TIMP-1 transgenic human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKCs). Transfected HKCs were co-incubated with 100 μM MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibitor III for 24 h to affect enzyme inhibition. TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, PTEN, VEGF, and Flk-1 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. PTEN, VEGF, and Flk-1 protein expression in cells of each experimental group was measured by indirect immunofluorescence. We found that PTEN expression was up-regulated (P < 0.05) in the sense TIMP-1-transfected group (P < 0.05) compared with the non-transfected and empty vector groups, and that expression of VEGF and Flk-1 was down-regulated (P < 0.05). In contrast, the antisense TIMP-1 transgenic group showed the opposite results (P < 0.05). No significant differences in expression of PTEN, VEGF, or Flk-1 were observed among the MMP- 2/MMP-9 inhibitor III, non-transfected, and empty vector groups (P > 0.05). These results suggest that in the progression of renal aging, high expression of TIMP-1 up-regulates PTEN expression through an MMP-independent pathway, and subsequently down-regulates the expression of VEGF and Flk-1, indicating that PTEN and TIMP-1 are involved in the aging-associated impairment of renal angiogenesis. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the mechanism underlying TIMP- 1 participation in renal aging progression.

To explore the role of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) tissue inhibitor in the mechanisms of kidney aging, we observed the effects of sense and antisense transfection of TIMP-1 and of metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors on phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and Flk-1 expression in TIMP-1 transgenic human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKCs). Transfected HKCs were co-incubated with 100 μM MMP-2 and MMP-9 inhibitor III for 24 h to affect enzyme inhibition. TIMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, PTEN, VEGF, and Flk-1 mRNA expression was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. PTEN, VEGF, and Flk-1 protein expression in cells of each experimental group was measured by indirect immunofluorescence. We found that PTEN expression was up-regulated (P < 0.05) in the sense TIMP-1-transfected group (P < 0.05) compared with the non-transfected and empty vector groups, and that expression of VEGF and Flk-1 was down-regulated (P < 0.05). In contrast, the antisense TIMP-1 transgenic group showed the opposite results (P < 0.05). No significant differences in expression of PTEN, VEGF, or Flk-1 were observed among the MMP- 2/MMP-9 inhibitor III, non-transfected, and empty vector groups (P > 0.05). These results suggest that in the progression of renal aging, high expression of TIMP-1 up-regulates PTEN expression through an MMP-independent pathway, and subsequently down-regulates the expression of VEGF and Flk-1, indicating that PTEN and TIMP-1 are involved in the aging-associated impairment of renal angiogenesis. Our study provides a theoretical basis for further exploration of the mechanism underlying TIMP- 1 participation in renal aging progression.