Figure 2.

Co-culture of SH-SY5Y cells with TUDCA-stimulated Chronic kidney disease (CKD-hMSCs) increases the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes via upregulation of PrP^C. (A) Western blot showing the expression of cellular prion protein (PrP^C) in normal human MSCs (hMSCs), normal hMSCs pretreated with PRNP (PRioN Protein) siRNA (si-PRNP) for 48 h, and hMSCs isolated from a CKD patient (CKD-hMSCs) (n = 3). (B) The level of PrP^C in (A) was determined by densitometry relative to β-actin. (C) Western blot showing the expression of PrP^C in CKD-hMSCs pretreated with TUDCA (1 μM) for 24 h. CKD-hMSCs were pretreated with PRNP siRNA (si-PRNP) or Scramble siRNA (si-SCR) for 48 h, then treated with TUDCA (n = 3). (D) The expression of PrP^C was determined by densitometry relative to β-actin. (E) The concentration of PrP^C in SH-SY5Y cells after co-culture with hMSCs (n = 5). (F and G) Catalase (F) and SOD activity (G) in SH-SY5Y cells following co-culture with hMSCs. Statistical analysis: Values represent the mean ± SEM. (B) ** p < 0.01 vs. normal hMSCs. (D) ** p < 0.01 vs. normal hMSCs, ^## p < 0.01 vs. CKD-hMSCs, ^$$ p < 0.01 vs. TUDCA-treated CKD-hMSCs pretreated with si-PRNP. (F) *p < 0.05 vs. normal MSCs, ^## p < 0.01 vs. CKD-hMSCs, ^$$ p < 0.01 vs. CKD-hMSCs + si-PRNP + TUDCA. (F and G) ** p < 0.01 vs. control SH-SY5Y cells without co-culture, ^## p < 0.01 vs. P-cresol+SH-SY5Y without co-culture, ^$ p < 0.05, ^$$ p < 0.01 vs. co-culture with normal hMSCs, ^&& p < 0.01 vs. co-culture with CKD-hMSCs, ^AA p < 0.01 vs. co-culture with CKD-hMSCs + si-PRNP + TUDCA.