Objective: To investigate the effect of C3a and C5a and their receptor antagonists (C3aRA and C5aRA) on the expression of BETAcatenin in renal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2.
Methods: Cells were divided in into C3a group and C5a group which was further divided into four subgroups: C3a group (control, 1 micromol/L TGF-beta1, 50 nmol/L C3a, 1 micromol/L C3aRA); C5a group (control, 1 micromol/L TGF-beta1, 50 nmol/L C5a, 2.5 micromol/L C5aRA). Real time PCR and Western blot were used to detect mRNA and protein expression of beta-catenin.
Results: Real-time PCR and Western blot demonstrated that 1 micromol/L TGF-beta1 could increase the expression of beta-catenin; C3a and C5a presented the similar inducible effect as TGF-beta1, which could be blocked by C3aR antagonist and C5aR antagonist (C3aRA and C5aRA).
Conclusion: Anaphylatoxin C3a and C5a can induce mRNA and protein expression of beta-catenin in renal tubular epithelial cells, which could be blocked by C3aRA and C5aRA. C3a and C5a may participate in tubular epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro.