Abnormal regulation of insulin-like growth factor gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with IgA nephropathy.
We investigated insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and -II mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and T cells obtained from 31 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 43 patients with other types of glomerulonephritis and 16 health age-matched controls. The majority of patients with IgAN showed elevated IGF-I and -II mRNA expression in PBMC, while no IGF-I and -II mRNA expression was detected in PBMC obtained from patients with other types of glomerulonephritis or normal controls. In T cells obtained from IgAN, other types of glomerulonephritis and normal controls, however, IGF-I and -II mRNA expression was not detected. A positive correlation was noted between IGF-I and -II mRNA levels and urinary protein excretion. IGF-I and -II mRNA expression also correlated with the histopathological findings in the renal tissue of patients with IgAN. Sixty-nine percent of patients with more than 1.0 g/day proteinuria showed strong [more than (++)] IGF-I and -II mRNA expression in their PBMC. Eighty-one and 76% of patients with grade III and IV histopathological findings, respectively, showed strong IGF-I and -II gene expression in their PBMC. We also studied the clinical course of 11 patients with IgAN during hospitalization. The IGF-I and -II mRNA levels in these patients decreased gradually, as did proteinuria, after treatment. These studies suggest that abnormal regulation of IGF-I and -II gene expression in PBMC may be associated with the progression of IgAN and may be useful as an indicator of disease activity.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics*; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000652:urine; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D012313:RNA; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II