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Renal expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and epidermal growth factor in children with obstructive
F Bartoli1, L Gesualdo, G Paradies
1Cattedra di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Università di Bari, Italy.
Insights
Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ-O) in children is linked to reduced epidermal growth factor (EGF) and increased monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) renal expression, potentially causing progressive kidney damage, especially with urinary tract infections (UTI).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Renal Pathophysiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ-O) is a common congenital anomaly.
- Progressive renal damage can occur in children with UPJ-O.
- The molecular mechanisms underlying UPJ-O-related renal damage are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression in the kidneys of children with UPJ-O.
- To determine if EGF and MCP-1 expression correlates with clinical factors such as age, renal function, or history of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Main Methods:
- In situ hybridization was used to detect renal expression of EGF and MCP-1 mRNA.
- Renal tissues were analyzed from 11 children with UPJ-O and 10 controls.
- MAG3 renal scans were used to assess differential renal function and renal thickness.
Main Results:
- Children with UPJ-O exhibited significantly reduced renal EGF expression compared to controls.
- Interstitial MCP-1 mRNA expression was detected in all UPJ-O cases.
- Reduced EGF and increased MCP-1 expression were more pronounced in children with a history of UTI, who also showed more severe reduction in renal thickness.
Conclusions:
- EGF and MCP-1 play a potential role in the pathogenesis of renal damage and growth failure in UPJ-O.
- These molecular changes may begin early in development, possibly in fetal life.
- The presence of UTI exacerbates renal damage in UPJ-O, highlighting the importance of these molecular markers in this context.
Background/Purpose:
The authors studied the potential role of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ-O) in causing progressive renal damage in children through the renal expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA.
Methods:
Renal tissues were harvested from 11 children with UPJ-O and from 10 normal kidneys to study the renal expression of EGF and MCP-1 detected by means of in situ hybridization. Five of the patients were found to have a history of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Results:
Children with UPJ-O had marked reduction of EGF gene expression when compared with controls. Interstitial expression of MCP-1 mRNA was present in all UPJ-O cases. Both EGF and MCP-1 expression did not correlate with age, with differential renal function, and with renal thickness measured through MAG3 renal scan. Children with a history of UTI had a more severe reduction of the renal thickness of the affected kidney compared with those without UTI. MCP-1 expression was higher and EGF more reduced in children with a history of UTI.
Conclusions:
Our results suggest a potential role of EGF and MCP-1 in the pathogenesis of renal damage and growth failure in UPJ-O, especially in children with UTI. These important functional changes begin early in life, possibly during fetal life.