Tribbles 3 regulates the fibrosis cytokine TGF-β1 through ERK1/2-MAPK signaling pathway in diabetic nephropathy

To reveal the expression and possible role of tribbles homolog 3 (trb3) in the incidence of type 2 diabetic nephropathy,we used immunohistochemistry,real-time quantitative pcr,western blot analysis,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) to study the expression of trb3,extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (erk1/2 mapk),transforming growth factor β1 (tgf-β1),and collagen type iv in kidneys of db/db diabetic mice and in murine renal mesangial cells stimulated with high glucose. the expression of trb3,tgf-β1,and collagen type iv was increased in kidneys of db/db diabetic mice. tgf-β1 and collagen type iv regulated by high glucose through erk1/2 mapk were downregulated by silencing trb3 in renal mesangial cells. trb3 may be involved in diabetic nephropathy by regulating the fibrosis cytokine tgf-β1 and collagen type iv through the erk1/2 mapk signaling pathway. © 2014 luwei zhang et al.