Role of LOX-1 and ROS in oxidized low-density lipoprotein induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition of NRK52E

Abstract Background To investigate the effect of oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) on tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition (TEMT) induced by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and its mechanism. Methods NRK-52E cells were incubated with ox-LDL (0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) for 24 hours or pre-treated with the chemical inhibitor of the LOX-1 receptor polyinosinic acid (poly I) and carrageenan or the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), the cells were then exposed to 50 μg/ml of ox-LDL.The expression of LOX-I, E-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by real-time PCR, western blotting analysis, immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Results Ox-LDL increased the expression of LOX-1 mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner from 0 to 100 μg/ml (P Conclusions LOX-1 and ROS may play a important role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of NRK52E induced by OX-LDL.