The influence of fasudil on renal proximal tubular cell epithelial–mesenchymal transition induced by parathormone

Background: Renal fibrosis is a common pathway through which a variety of chronic kidney diseases progress to end-stage renal disease. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of renal proximal tubular cells is one of the most important factors in renal fibrosis. This study investigates if fasudil could influence EMT of renal proximal tubular cells. Methods: HK-2 cells in passage 3–4 were used for all experiments. The cells were divided into five groups and treated with different concentrations of PTH and then observe cellular morphological changes at 0, 24 and 48 h using an inverted microscope and investigate the expression of the epithelial cell marker E-cadherin and the renal fibroblast marker α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Results: PTH significantly induced EMT, fasudil-inhibited EMT induced by PTH to different degrees, and the inhibitory effect of fasudil was most pronounced at 20 μmol/L. Conclusion: Monitoring PTH levels, early prevention and control of hyperparathyroidism and reducing the concentration of PTH are important means to improve prognosis and delay the progression of chronic kidney disease. Fasudil can restrain EMT induced by PTH; this conclusion provides experimental data for the application of fasudil in the clinical prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis.