Lentiviral-Mediated RNA Interference against TGF-Beta Receptor Type II in Renal Epithelial and Fibroblast Cell Populations In Vitro Demonstrates Regulated Renal Fibrogenesis That Is More Efficient than a Nonlentiviral Vector

摘要

Background. Lentiviral constructs reportedly can integrate into the genome of non-dividing, terminally differentiated cells and dividing cells, for long-term gene expression. This investigation tested whether a third generation lentiviral-mediated small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivered into renal epithelial and fibroblast cells against type II transforming growth factor-beta receptor (siRNalpha-TBRII) could better attenuate renal fibrogenesis in comparison with a non-lentiviral construct. Methods. HIV-derived lentiviral and non-lentiviral constructs were used to transfect cells with siRNalpha-TBRII or siRNalpha-EGFP control. Human embryonic kidney (HEK-293T), renal epithelial cells (NRK-52E) and renal fibroblasts (NRK-49F) were transfected and gene silencing quantified (fluorescence microscopy. Western blotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting). Renal fibrogenesis was assessed using extracellular matrix protein synthesis (fibronectin and coUagen-III; Western immunoblot), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was analysed as a marker of fibroblast activation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiation (EMT). Results. Lentiviral-mediated siRNalpha-TBRII significantly suppressed TBRII expression in all cell lines, and also significantly suppressed renal fibrogenesis. In comparison with the non-lentiviral construct, lentiviral-mediated siRNalpha-TBRII produced stronger and more persistent inhibition of coUagen-III in NRK-49F cells, fibronectin in all renal cell lines, and alpha-SMA in renal epithelial cells. Conclusions. Lentiviral vector systems against TBRII can be delivered into renal cells to efficiently limit renal fibrogenesis by sequence-specific gene silencing.