Resistin-Like Molecule Beta (RELM-β) Regulates Proliferation of Human Diabetic Nephropathy Mesangial Cells via Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPK) Signaling Pathway

Background: Resistin-like molecule beta (RELM-beta) has been reported to be associated with diabetic nephropathy (DN). However, the role of RELM-beta in DN is poorly understood. This study was conducted to delineate the underlying mechanisms of action and to investigate the role of RELM-beta in the primitive development of DN via MAPK signaling pathways. Material/Methods: Lentivirus-mediated vectors and RNAi technology were used to establish the model of RELM-beta up-regulated and down-regulated expression in human mesangial cells (HMCs). The proliferation of HMCs was detected through CCK-8 method. The cell cycle and cell proliferation of HMCs was detected through flow cytometry. The MAPKs pathway protein activity was detected through Western blotting. Results: The HMCs with up-regulated and down-regulated expression of RELM-beta increased or decreased significantly at 2-3 days. The HMCs with high glucose intervention reversed the proliferation inhibition. The HMCs with exogenous glucose or RELM-beta protein intervention partially reversed the cell cycle inhibition. Among the MAPKs pathway, the phosphorylation activity of p38MAPK and JNK increased or decreased and ERK1/2 did not change in the overexpression or inhibition of RELM-beta. The p38 MAPK pathway inhibitor SB202190 significantly inhibited the proliferation of HMCs caused by overexpression of RELM-beta. Up-regulated expression of RELM-beta induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, JNK in HMCs and promoted HMCs proliferation and participated in early DN through the MAPKs pathway. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that RELM-beta is a potential molecular target for the treatment of DN.