The effect of TGF-beta1 on the expression of plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 and matrix metalloproteinases in cultured rat mesangial cells transfected with antisense-TGF-beta1 vector

OBJECTIVE: To study the plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 (PAI-1) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression on the cultured rat mesangial cells (MsC) transfected with antisense-TGF-beta1 vector. METHODS: Lipofectin method was used to transfect antisense-TGF-beta1 vector into MsC, Western blot and Northern blot analysis for detecting TGF-beta1 peptides and antisense TGF-beta1 RNA level. The expression of PAI-1 and MMPs were determined by Northern blot, Western bolt and zymography assay. RESULTS: The MsC clone (MAT1) which blocked the expression of TGF-beta1 peptides was successfully established. The MsC clone showed increased expression of MMP-2 mRNA protein and enzyme activity of MMP-2, 3, 7. However, expression of PAI-1 mRNA of MsC clone was suppressed. CONCLUSION: Blocked expression of TGF-beta1 can upregulate the expression of MMP-2, 3, 7 and downregulate the expression of PAI-1 mRNA in MsC. It is possible that antisense-TGF-beta1 may be used for gene therapy in glomerular diseases.