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Published on: September 1, 2015
Renal expression of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta1 in children with congenital
Yi Yang1, Ying Hou, Chang-Lin Wang
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang City, China. yangxy70@hotmail.com
Insights
Pelviureteral junction obstruction (PUJO) in children is linked to increased TGF-beta1 and decreased EGF renal expression. These molecular changes may contribute to progressive kidney damage in PUJO patients.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Molecular Biology
- Urology
Background:
- Congenital hydronephrosis due to pelviureteral junction obstruction (PUJO) can lead to progressive renal damage in children.
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) are key growth factors involved in renal development and injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of PUJO in causing progressive renal damage.
- To examine the renal expression of EGF and TGF-beta1 in children with congenital hydronephrosis.
Main Methods:
- Renal tissue samples from 25 children with congenital hydronephrosis were analyzed.
- Immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction were used to evaluate EGF and TGF-beta1 expression.
Main Results:
- Children with PUJO showed significantly increased TGF-beta1 and decreased EGF expression compared to controls.
- Positive correlations were observed between TGF-beta1 levels and drainage clearance half-time and histologic grade.
- Negative correlations were found between EGF levels and drainage clearance half-time and histologic grade.
Conclusions:
- TGF-beta1 expression is upregulated, while EGF expression is downregulated in the renal tissue of children with PUJO.
- Alterations in TGF-beta1 and EGF expression may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of renal damage associated with PUJO.
Objectives:
To study the potential role of pelviureteral junction obstruction (PUJO) in causing progressive renal damage in children through the renal expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1).
Methods:
The expression of EGF and TGF-beta1 was evaluated in the renal tissues of 25 children with congenital hydronephrosis by immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction techniques.
Results:
Children with PUJO had a significant increase in TGF-beta1 and a marked reduction in EGF expression compared with controls. The TGF-beta1/glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase ratio in the hydronephrotic kidney and normal kidney was 0.53 +/- 0.13 and 0.24 +/- 0.10 respectively, and the difference was significant (P = 0.000). The EGF/glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase ratio in the hydronephrotic kidney and normal kidney was 0.15 +/- 0.06 and 0.55 +/- 0.13, respectively, and the difference was also significant (P = 0.0001). Positive correlations were found between the TGF-beta1 gene and the drainage clearance half-time (r = 0.47; P = 0.018), TGF-beta1 protein and drainage clearance half-time (r = 0.44; P = 0.028), TGF-beta1 gene and histologic grade (r = 0.53; P = 0.006), and TGF-beta1 protein and histologic grade (r = 0.76; P = 0.000). Negative correlations were found between the EGF gene and drainage clearance half-time (r = -0.59; P = 0.002), EGF protein and drainage clearance half-time (r = -0.61; P = 0.001), EGF gene and histologic grade (r = -0.58; P = 0.003), and EGF protein and histologic grade (r = -0.47; P = 0.019).
Conclusions:
TGF-beta1 expression was increased and EGF expression was decreased in the renal tissue after clinical PUJO. The alterations of TGF-beta1 and EGF may play a potential role in the pathogenesis of renal damage in PUJO.
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