Opposite actions of urotensin II and relaxin‐2 on cellular expression of fibronectin in renal fibrosis: A preliminary experimental study

摘要

Summary Our aim was to evaluate the role of urotensin II , urantide (urotensin II receptor antagonist) and relaxin‐2 on the cellular expression of fibronectin as a surrogate marker for renal fibrosis. We employed LLC ‐ PK 1 renal tubular epithelial cells and assessed the influence on the fibrotic process of the above‐mentioned substances by using anti‐fibronectin antibodies in western blot analysis. The addition of urotensin II increased fibronectin expression. Urantide reduced the positivity for fibronectin caused by urotensin II ( P .05). The anti‐fibrotic action was more evident for relaxin‐2 ( P .01). Also in the model of TGF ‐β1‐induced fibrosis, urantide and, to a greater extent, relaxin‐2 were able to significantly lessen fibronectin expression (respectively, P .05 and P .01). In conclusion, relaxin‐2 may reduce urotensin II ‐induced renal fibrosis.