Objective: To observe the activity of c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase (JNK/SAPK) and assess the correlation between JNK/SAPK activity and ICAM-1 expression on mesangial cells in mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis(MSPGN).
Methods: Seven patients with MSPGN and 6 controls were selected for this study. JNK/SAPK activity was detected by immunoprecipitation and western blotting; RT-PCR was used to detect ICAM-1 mRNA expression, and flow cytometry was used to analyze cell surface ICAM-1 expression.
Results: Either in spontaneous condition or under the stimulus of TNF alpha, the activity of JNK/SAPK on mesangial cells in vitro in MSPGN was higher than that of the controls(P < 0.05); the activity of JNK/SAPK in MSPGN was found to have a positive correlation with the levels of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein. The levels of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein were increased by TNF alpha stimulation while the levels ICAM-1 mRNA and protein were decreased by DMAP inhibition (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: JNK/SAPK may have been aberrantly activated in MSPGN, which may involve in the overexpression of ICAM-1 in MSPGN.