| Objective To study the molecular mechanism through which albumin induces apoptosis in tubular epithelial cells in vitro.Methods Cultured renal tubular epithelial cells were incubated with delipidated, endotoxin-free bovine serum albumin (BSA) 20mg/ml for 0.5, 1,2, 6,12, and 24 hours. NF-κB activity was assessed by electrophonetic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Osteopontin (OPN) mRNA expression was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The cell apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry.Result Albumin promoted apoptosis in the cultured tubular epitheiia cells. Albumin stimulated NF-KB activity and up-regulated the expression of OPN compared with control (P<0.05).Conclusion Albumin induced tubular epithelial cell apoptosis through stimulation of NF-κB activity and upregulation of OPN mRNA expression. |
