title: Urine transforming growth factor-beta activity is related to the degree of scarring in crescentic nephritis in the rabbit.
abstract: Crescentic nephritis was induced in rabbits by injection of antirabbit glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies. Urine samples were obtained by catheterization and assayed for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) activity. On day 31, all animals were sacrificed for evaluation of renal cortical histopathology and collagen content. The results show that control rabbit urine contains measurable amounts of TGF-beta. Urine TGF-beta activity was expressed in relation to urine creatinine concentration to correct for variation in urine concentration. When expressed in this manner, urine TGF-beta activity increased from day 2 onwards, peaked on day 7 and returned to normal levels after day 14. This time course is identical to that previously seen for the cortical and glomerular production of TGF-beta in the same model. Furthermore, when the normalized TGF-beta values for each animal were compared to their respective fibrosis parameters on day 31, significant correlations were observed for the values of urine TGF-beta activities on day 7 and all indices of fibrosis. These results suggest that measurements of urine TGF-beta activity at certain critical stages of disease could be useful in predicting the progression to end-stage renal disease with fibrosis and might serve as a helpful noninvasive adjunct in monitoring response to therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor 48109-0602.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiggins
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Phan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology* / Q000652:urine; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009393:Nephritis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine*; D011379:Prognosis; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000652:urine*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D003094:Collagen; D003404:Creatinine