To investigate the effect of mesenchymal stem cells on transforming growth factor-β1 in the renal tissue of rats with chronic cyclosporine nephropathy.

The experimental animals were divided into 3 groups: Group C: normal group (control) ; Group H: chronic cyclosporine nephropathy group; Group B: mesenchymal stem cells therapy group. On day 28 kidney tissue was evaluated for the expression levels of TGF-β1 andα-SMA by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot.

(1) Immunohistochemistry results: Compared with group C, TGF-β1 (0.899±0.046vs9.524±1.232, 6.437±0.728;P <0.01) ,α-SMA (0.370±0.006vs0.900±0.007, 0.642±0.007;P <0.01) in model group and group B are significantly increased. Compared with group H, expression levels of the above proteins in the groups B decreased (TGF-β1: 9.524±1.232vs6.437±0.728;P <0.01;α-SMA:11.912±2.610vs9.232±2.268,P <0.01) . (2) RT-PCR results: Compared with group C, TGF-β1 (0.119±0.003vs0.826±0.004, 0.651±0.004;P <0.01) ,α-SMA (0.370±0.006vs0.900±0.007, 0.642±0.007;P <0.01) in group H and group B are significantly increased. Compared with group H, expression levels of the above proteins in groups B decreased (TGF-β1: 0.826±0.004vs0.651±0.004;P <0.01;α-SMA: 0.900±0.007vs0.642±0.007;P <0.01) ; (3) Western blot results: Compared with group C, TGF-β1 (0.218±0.004vs0.825±0.003, 0.650±0.006;P <0.01) ,α-SMA (0.370±0.006 vs 0.900±0.007, 0.642±0.007;P <0.01) in model group and group B significantly increased. Compared with group H, expression levels of the above proteins decreased in group B (TGF-β1: 0.825±0.003vs0.650±0.006;P <0.01; 0.841±0.003vs0.615±0.003;P <0.01) .

Bone mesenchymal stem cells can mitigate renal interstitial fibrosis by decreasing the expression of TGF-β1 andα-SMA.