Abstract: Abstract: Objective To investigate the effect of Fushen recipe on transforming growth factor-β receptor Ⅰ (TGF-βR Ⅰ), transforming growth factor-β receptor Ⅱ (TGF-βRⅡ), smad ubiquitination related factor 2 (Smurf2) and E-cadherin and tight junction protein-1 (ZO-1) in peritoneal mesothelial cells of rats, and the mechanism of its inhibiting epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT). Methods The rat peritoneal mesothelial cells were primary cultured. After passing to the second generation and identification, cells were divided into blank control group (C), medicated serum group (B), model group (T, 40 μg/L TGF-β1), model + medicated serum intervention group (T+B) and model + MG132 intervention group (T+ M). Cells and the culture supernatant were collected after 24-h incubation. Western blot assay was used to detect the Smurf2 protein level. mRNA transcription levels of TGF- βR Ⅰ , TGF- βR Ⅱ , E-cadherin and ZO-1 were detected by qPCR. Results Compared with group C, the expressions of E-cadherin, ZO-1, TGF- β1R Ⅱ mRNA and Smurf2 protein were increased significantly in group T (P＜0.05). Compared with group T, the expressions of E-cadherin and ZO-1 mRNA were up-regulated in group B. The expressions of E-cadherin, ZO-1 and TGF- β1R Ⅱ mRNA were up-regulated and the expression of Smurf2 protein was down-regulated, in group T+B. The expressions of E-cadherin, ZO-1, TGF-β1RI mRNA and Smurf2 protein were down-regulated, and the expression of TGF-β1RⅡ mRNA was up-regulated, in group T+M (P＜ 0.05). Compared with group B, the expressions of E-cadherin mRNA were down-regulated in group T+B and group T+M, while the expressions of ZO-1 and TGF-β1RⅠ mRNA were down-regulated in group T+M (P＜0.05). Compared with T+B group, E-cadherin, ZO-1, TGF-β1R and TGF-β1RⅡ mRNA expression were all down-regulated in T+M group (P＜0.05). Conclusion The inhibition of EMT in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells by Fushen recipe may be related to the up-regulation of TGF- βR Ⅱ mRNA transcription, the down-regulation of Smurf2 protein and the promotion of E-cadherin and ZO-1 mRNA transcription.

Key words: pepithelial-mesenchymal transition, receptors, transforming growth factor beta, tight junction proteins,
E-cadherin, smad ubiquitination correlation factor 2, peritoneal mesothelial cells, fushen recipe