Open Access

Quercetin is able to alleviate TGF‑β‑induced fibrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by suppressing miR‑21

  • Authors:
    • Yaochen Cao
    • Jialin Hu
    • Jianying Sui
    • Limei Jiang
    • Yakun Cong
    • Guoqing Ren
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: July 20, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6489
  • Pages: 2442-2448
  • Copyright: © Cao et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. A number of studies have indicated that tubule interstitial fibrosis (TIF) is associated with the occurrence and development of CKD. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of quercetin treatment on the fibrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells and to determine whether the anti‑fibrotic effects of quercetin are achieved via microRNA (miR)‑21. Human tubular epithelial HK‑2 cells were cultured with transforming growth factor (TGF)‑β to induce fibrosis and the expression of fibrotic markers collagen I, fibronectin, α‑smooth muscle actin (SMA) and epithelial‑cadherin were measured using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) and western blotting. Cells were treated with 7.5, 15 or 30 mg/ml quercetin, following which fibrosis and miR‑21 expression were evaluated. Quercetin‑treated cells were transfected with miR‑21 mimics and the expression of fibrotic markers was examined using RT‑qPCR. Finally, the expression of fibrosis‑associated miR‑21 target genes, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) and TIMP Metallopeptidase Inhibitor 3 (TIMP3), was measured in cells treated with quercetin with or without miR‑21 mimics using RT‑qPCR, western blotting and immunocytochemistry. The results revealed that TGF‑β treatment induced a significant increase in the expression of fibrotic markers in HK‑2 cells, while quercetin treatment partially inhibited the fibrosis of HK‑2 cells. Furthermore, quercetin treatment significantly inhibited TGF‑β‑induced miR‑21 upregulation and transfection with miR‑21 mimics reversed the anti‑fibrotic effects of quercetin. Quercetin treatment markedly upregulated PTEN and TIMP3 expression, whereas transfection with miR‑21 mimics reversed this effect. The results of the present study suggest that quercetin is able to alleviate TGF‑β‑induced fibrosis in HK‑2 cells via suppressing the miR‑21 and upregulating PTEN and TIMP3. Quercetin may have potential as an anti‑fibrotic treatment for patients with renal fibrosis.
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September-2018
Volume 16 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Cao Y, Hu J, Sui J, Jiang L, Cong Y and Ren G: Quercetin is able to alleviate TGF‑β‑induced fibrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by suppressing miR‑21. Exp Ther Med 16: 2442-2448, 2018
APA
Cao, Y., Hu, J., Sui, J., Jiang, L., Cong, Y., & Ren, G. (2018). Quercetin is able to alleviate TGF‑β‑induced fibrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by suppressing miR‑21. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 16, 2442-2448. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6489
MLA
Cao, Y., Hu, J., Sui, J., Jiang, L., Cong, Y., Ren, G."Quercetin is able to alleviate TGF‑β‑induced fibrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by suppressing miR‑21". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 16.3 (2018): 2442-2448.
Chicago
Cao, Y., Hu, J., Sui, J., Jiang, L., Cong, Y., Ren, G."Quercetin is able to alleviate TGF‑β‑induced fibrosis in renal tubular epithelial cells by suppressing miR‑21". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 16, no. 3 (2018): 2442-2448. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2018.6489