Supplementary Material for: Aldosterone Induces Kidney Fibroblast Proliferation via Activation of Growth Factor Receptors and PI3K/MAPK Signalling

<p><b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The mineralocorticoid hormone, aldosterone, has pro-fibrotic properties which can cause kidney damage. The severity of kidney interstitial fibrosis is dependent on the accumulation of fibroblasts, which result largely from local proliferation; however, it is unknown whether aldosterone stimulates kidney fibroblast proliferation. Therefore, we examined the effects of aldosterone on the proliferation of cultured kidney fibroblasts. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Uptake of ³H-thymidine and cell number quantitation were used to determine the proliferative effects of aldosterone on a rat kidney fibroblast cell line (NRK49F cells) and interstitial fibroblasts extracted from mouse kidneys after unilateral ureter obstruction. The role of different mitogenic signalling pathways in aldosterone-induced proliferation was assessed using specific inhibitors of receptors and kinases. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Physiological levels of aldosterone induced a doubling of proliferation of kidney fibroblasts (p < 0.0001), which was inhibited by pre-treatment with the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist, eplerenone. Aldosterone-induced fibroblast proliferation was dependent upon the kinase activity of growth factor receptors [platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) and epidermal growth factor receptor]. Notably, PDGF ligands were not involved in aldosterone-induced PDGFR activation, indicating receptor transactivation. Aldosterone-induced fibroblast proliferation also required signalling via PI3K, JNK and ERK pathways, but not via the transforming growth factor-β₁ receptor. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Aldosterone ligation of the mineralocorticoid receptor in kidney fibroblasts results in rapid activation of growth factor receptors and induction of PI3K/MAPK signalling, which stimulates proliferation. This suggests that increased levels of aldosterone during disease may promote the severity of kidney fibrosis by inducing fibroblast proliferation.</p

Synthesis and paste properties of octenyl succinic anhydride modified early Indica rice starch

Octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA) modified early Indica rice starch was prepared in aqueous slurry systems using response surface methodology. The paste properties of the OSA starch were also investigated. Results indicated that the suitable parameters for the preparation of OSA starch from early Indica rice starch were as follows: reaction period 4 h, reaction temperature 33.4 °C, pH of reaction system 8.4, concentration of starch slurry 36.8% (in proportion to water, w/w), amount of OSA 3% (in proportion to starch, w/w). The degree of substitution was 0.0188 and the reaction efficiency was 81.0%. The results of paste properties showed that with increased OSA modification, the starch derivatives had higher paste clarity, decreased retrogradation and better freeze-thaw stability

A Study of two particle momentum correlations in hadronic Z0 decays

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