Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of IL-33 Gene Correlated with Renal Allograft Fibrosis in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Figure 5

rs10975519 mutation on IL-33 gene contributed to EMT in HK2 cells via activating p38 MAPK signaling pathway. (a) Representative WB results showed rs10975519 mutation of IL-33 gene promoted the expression of EMT-related markers including FN, E-cadherin, and α-SMA. (b) Semiquantitative analysis results of relative protein abundances of FN, E-cadherin, α-SMA, and IL-33 were shown in each group. Values represented the (; and compared with the pCDNA3.1 group). (c) Representative WB results showed that activation in Erk1/2, p38, and the c-Jun MAPK signaling pathways in HK2 cells transfected with pCDNA3.1 and IL-33. (d) Semiquantitative analysis results of relative protein abundances of p-Erk1/2, Erk1/2, p-p38, p38, p-c-Jun MAPK, and the c-Jun MAPK were shown in each group. Values represented the (; and compared with the control group). (e) Representative WB results showed that activation of p38 MAPK pathway was involved in IL-33-induced EMT in HK2 cells with pCDNA3.1 transfection. (f) Semiquantitative analysis results of relative protein abundances of p-p38, p38, FN, E-cadherin, and α-SMA were shown in each group. Values represented the (; , , and compared with the pCDNA3.1 group; ^# and ^### compared with the pCMV-IL-33(mut) group). (g) Representative WB results showed that phosphorylated p38 MAPK level increases continually in rs10975519 mutant comparing with the pCDNA3.1 group, suggesting rs10975519 mutant of IL-33 gene could continuously activate p38 MAPK pathway. (h) Semiquantitative analysis results of relative protein abundances of p-p38 and p38 were shown in each group. Values represented the (; compared with the pCDNA3.1+IL-33 group; ^### compared with the pCMV-IL-33(mut)+IL-33 group). Abbreviations: EMT: epithelial-mesenchymal transition; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; FN: fibronectin; α-SMA: alpha smooth muscle actin; WB: western blot.

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