Abstract: Abstract:Objective To investigate the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on high glucose-induced proliferation and apoptosis in human HK-2 cells， and to provide a reference for slowing down the progress of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods HK-2 cells were cultured in vitro and were divided into six groups: blank group (without stimulants), high glu⁃ cose group (D-glucose 30 mmol/L), high permeability group (mannitol 24.5 mmol/L) and low concentration of ATRA group (ATRA 30 mmol/L 1×10- 7 mol/L+D-glucose 30 mmol/L), middle concentration of ATRA group (ATRA 30 mmol/L 1×10- 6 mol/L +D-glucose 30mmol/L) and high concentration of ATRA group (ATRA 1×10-5 mol/L+D-glucose 30 mmol/L). Cells of six groups were cultured for 48 hours. MTT assay was used for detection of cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used for de⁃ tection of cell apoptosis. Results There were no significant differences in OD value and apoptotic rate between the blank group and the high permeability group. The cell proliferation was decreased in high glucose group than that of blank group and high permeability group， but the apoptotic rate was increased. The cell proliferation was significantly higher in low con⁃ centration, medium concentration and high concentration of ATRA groups than that of high glucose group, and the apoptotic rate was lower than that of high glucose group, and the changes were in a concentration dependent manner (P＜0.05). Con⁃ clusion ATRA can promote the proliferation of HK-2 cells induced by high glucose, and inhibit the apoptosis, and which has a certain relevance with the concentration of ATRA.

Key words: cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, in vitro, all-trans retinoic acid, renal tubular epithelial cells