Figure 6
CQ and AQ reduced TGF-β1 expression and the EMT phenotype in hRPTCs under HG conditions. HKC-8 cells were incubated in 5–30 mM D-glucose for 24 hours and collected for analysis. CQ (200 μM) or AQ (10 μM) were treated for 1 hour before changing culture medium into 30 mM D-glucose to figure out how the drugs effect on hRPTCs under HG conditions. (A) Immunoblotting showed that TGF-β1 expression was decreased after treatment with CQ or AQ under HG conditions. Band intensities representing TGF-β1 and GAPDH expression levels were converted into densitometry using ImageJ software in the ratio of TGF-β1 to GAPDH. Results are means ± SEM. for experiments in triplicate. (B) Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin (E-Cad) was restored, whereas that of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and fibronectin was decreased after CQ or AQ treatment under HG conditions. Band intensities representing E-cad, α-SMA, fibronectin and GAPDH expression levels were converted into densitometry using ImageJ software in the ratios of E-cad, α-SMA, and fibronectin to GAPDH. Results are means ± SEM. for experiments in triplicate. (*p < 0.05 vs 5 mM, #p < 0.05, ##p < 0.01 vs 30 mM).
