Matrine suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced fibrosis in human peritoneal mesothelial cells by inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2019-03, Vol.132 (6), p.664-670
• Main Authors: Li, Yi-Zheng, Peng, Xi, Ma, Yun-Hua, Li, Fu-Ji, Liao, Yun-Hua
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Cell adhesion & migration; E coli; Extracellular matrix; Growth factors; Monoclonal antibodies; Original; Peritoneal dialysis; Peritonitis; Software
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000000127

Peritoneal fibrosis is the primary reason that patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have to cease peritoneal dialysis. Peritonitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) were on the rise. We had previously shown that matrine inhibited the formation of biofilm by E. coli. However, the role of matrine on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in peritoneal mesothelial cells under chronic inflammatory conditions is still unknown. We cultured human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs) with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an environment that mimicked peritonitis and investigated whether matrine could inhibit LPS-induced EMT in these cells. In addition, we investigated the change in expression levels of the miR-29b and miR-129-5p. We found that 10 μg/ml of LPS induced EMT in HPMCs. Matrine inhibited LPS-induced EMT in HPMCs in a dose-dependent manner. We observed that treatment with matrine increased the expression of E-cadherin (F = 50.993, P