F-00408-2002.R1 TGF-β1 mediated alterations renal proximal tubular epithelial cell phenotype

The aim of this study was to characterise the mechanism of TGF-β1 mediated alteration of renal proximal tubular cell phenotype. TGF-β1 altered cell phenotype with cells appearing elongated and spindle shaped. This was associated with loss of cell-cell contact and rearrangement of the actin cytoskeleton, increased formation of stress fibres and focal adhesions. Addition of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor, sodium orthovanadate also led to rapid but transient loss of cell-cell contact, but did not lead to a change of phenotype comparable to that seen following addition of TGF-β1. There was however no change in the formation of focal adhesions, and no associated reorganisation of the F-actin cytoskeleton. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton with Cytochalasin D prevented phenotypic alterations following addition of TGF-β1. Transient transfection with Smad2/4 or Smad3/4 expression vectors did not alter cell phenotype. Previously we have demonstrated β-catenin translocation to PTC nuclei and its association with Smad proteins following addition of TGF-β1, suggesting the possibility that TGF-β1 may modulate Wnt signalling. Wnt responsive Xtwn-reporter construct was however silent in response to TGF-β1. Similarly a second Wnt/LEF-1 regulated element Toplflash, which does not contain Smad binding sites was insensitive to TGF-β1 signalling. In contrast phenotypic changes in response to TGF-β1 were abrogated by inhibitors of the RhoA downstream target ROCK, which also prevented loss of cell-cell contact and adherens junction disassembly.