%0 Journal Article %T Rhein inhibits renal tubular epithelial cell hypertrophy and extracellular matrix accumulation induced by transforming growth factor beta1 %A Guo Xiao-Hua %A Liu Zhi-Hong %A Dai Chun-Sun %A Li Heng %A Liu Dong %A Li Lei-Shi %J Acta Pharmacologica Sinica %D 2016 %B 2016 %9 %! Rhein inhibits renal tubular epithelial cell hypertrophy and extracellular matrix accumulation induced by transforming growth factor beta1 %K %X Aim: To investigate the effects of rhein on cell hypertrophy and accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the renal tubular epithelial cells. Methods: LLC-PK1 cells were incubated with transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) 2 microg/L for 24 h to induce cell hypertrophy and production of ECM. To evaluate the effects of rhein on inhibiting the action of TGFbeta1, cell volume, cellular protein level, and [3H]leucine incorporation in LLC-PK1 cells treated with rhein at different concentrations were measured. In addition, the [3H]proline incorporation, level of fibronectin (FN) in supernatant, and mRNA expression of collagen IV and FN were also detected in rhein treated cells. Results: The cell volume, cellular protein content, and [3H]leucine incorporation were markedly increased in LLC-PK1 cells after TGFbeta1 stimulation as compared with control (P Conclusion: Rhein can inhibit cell hypertrophy and ECM accumulation in LLC-PK1 cells induced by TGFbeta1, which may partly account for the role of rhein in preventing and retarding the progression of diabetic nephropathy. %U http://www.chinaphar.com/article/view/7654 %V 22 %N 10 %P 934-938 %@ 1745-7254