Korean J Nephrol.  2001 Jan;20(1):9-15.

Upregulation of Transforming Growth Factor-beta Receptors in the Rat Remnant Kidney

• Kang MJ
• Yoon HS
• Chung MJ
• Moon WS
• Lee DG

Abstract

TGF-beta1 plays a major role in the regulation of extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation. TGF-beta1 exerts its biological effects by interacting with specific cell surface receptors including type I and II receptors(TGFbetaRI and RII). The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of TGFbetaRI and RII proteins in the kidney during the development of glomerulosclerosis and renal fibrosis in rats with subtotal nephrectomy. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200 to 220 grams were divided into two groups: 25 rats were subjected to 5/6 renal ablation and 15 to sham operation. The animals were sacrificed 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks following operation and the kidneys were removed for histological and immunohistochemical studies for TGF-beta1, TGFbetaRI, and TGFbetaRII. The results showed increased glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, and mononuclear cellular infiltration with time and progressively higher immunohistochemical TGF-beta1, TGFbetaRI, and TGFbetaRII staining in rats with subtotal nephrectomy. We conclude that increase in TGFbetaRI and RII expression in remnant kidney rats may be causally related with the development of renal fibrosis.

Keyword

TGF-beta receptors; Subtotal nephrectomy; Glomerulosclerosis; Renal fibrosis

MeSH Terms

Animals
Extracellular Matrix
Fibrosis
Humans
Kidney*
Male
Nephrectomy
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Receptors, Cell Surface
Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Up-Regulation*
Receptors, Cell Surface
Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta
Transforming Growth Factor beta1