Synergistic effects of pravastatin and pioglitazone in renal tubular epithelial cells induced by transforming growth factor-β1

Recent studies suggest that treatment with PPAR-γ agonists and statins have beneficial effects on renal disease. However, the combined effects of PPAR-γ agonists and statins in human renal epithelial cells are unknown. Our present study revealed that there were synergistic effects of pravastatin and pioglitazone in the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), fibronectin (FN), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and collagen 1 in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells induced by transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). The beneficial effects of combined therapy against renal tubular epithelial cell injury are attributed, at least in part, to the inhibition of transdifferentiation, extracellular matrix deposition and cytokine production.