Figure 3.

CRP Induces DPP4 in Renal Cells Associated with Inflammatory and Fibrotic Response In Vitro

Real-time analysis shows that CRP (10 μg/mL) triggers DPP4 expression in (A) mTEC, (B) mMC, and (C) HK-2 cells; associated with (D) CD32b induction, it induces an inflammatory and fibrotic response in the human HK-2 cell line, including inflammatory markers (E) TNF-α and (F) MCP-1 and fibrotic markers (G) collagen I (Col I) and (H) fibronectin (Fn). DPP4 inhibitor (DPP4i linagliptin) significantly suppresses the CRP-induced expression of (I) TNF-α and (J) collagen I in HK-2 cells, as shown by real-time PCR analysis. Data represent the mean ± SEM for three independent experiments. ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001 versus control; ^#p < 0.05, ^##p < 0.01 versus CRP-stimulated HK-2 cells.