The influence of fasudil on the epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation of renal tubular epithelial cells from diabetic rats

To investigate the influence of fasudil on the epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation of renal tubular epithelial cells from diabetic rats and explore the mechanisms of this effect. Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following three groups: control, diabetes and fasudil-treatment. All rats were sacrificed after three months of feeding with or without fasudil treatment. Pathological changes to the glomeruli and renal interstitium were studied using Periodic acid-Schiff's staining and Masson staining, respectively. Expression of ROCK1, α-SMA, E-cadherin and the distribution of β-catenin in rat renal cortex were revealed by immunohistochemistry. Changes in the MYPT1 phosphorylation profile and α-SMA, E-cadherin and membrane β-catenin expression were revealed by western blot. Changes in the levels of ROCK1, E-cadherin and total β-catenin mRNA expression were analyzed by real-time PCR. Fasudil treatment notably attenuates renal interstitial fibrosis in diabetic rats. Compared to the control rats, diabetic rats showed elevated phosphorylation of MYPT1, increased expression of ROCK1 and α-SMA, decreased expression of E-cadherin and membrane β-catenin, and increased expression of ROCK1 and total β-catenin mRNA, decreased expression of E-cadherin mRNA. Fasudil treatment of diabetic rats resulted in attenuated MYPT1 phosphorylation, decreased ROCK1 and α-SMA expression, increased E-cadherin and membrane β-catenin expression, and reduced ROCK1 and total β-catenin mRNA expression, increased expression of E-cadherin mRNA. In conclusion, fasudil may reduce the epithelial-mesenchymal transdifferentiation and renal interstitial fibrosis in diabetic rats through a mechanism by which ROCK activity is inhibited, which further facilitates the recovery of the cell-cell adhesions among renal tubular epithelial cells and adhesion complex formation.