Effect of IL-4, CD40L on RANTES production in murine renal tubular epithelial cells

AIM: To investigate the effect of IL-4, CD40L on RANTES production in murine renal tubular epithelial cells (TEC). METHODS: TEC were obtained from mouse, expression of RANTES and CD40 on TEC were measured. RESULTS: (1) Activation of TEC with IL-4 resulted in significant increase in CD40 expression (P＜0.01).(2) A little RANTES was detectable in supernatants without stimulation. TEC stimulated with either cytokine IL-4 or CD40mAb resulted in strong induction of RANTES production up to 43.61±13.73 or 73.77±4.28(ng/L), respectively. The differences of RANTES between two stimulation groups and that in medium were statistically significant (P<0.01). TEC stimulated with IL-4 and CD40mAb produced more RANTES than that in medium (P<0.01), which was higher than that with single stimulation (P<0.01). (3) TEC stimulated with IL-4 or CD40 activation or combined stimulation of IL-4 and CD40mAb resulted in increase in levels of RANTE mRNA, which were higher than that in medium. CONCLUSION: Co-stimulation of TEC by IL-4 and CD40mAb up-regulated the RANTES production, suggesting the RANTES may participate in the inflammation of TEC.