title: Expression of TGF-beta receptors type I and II in human glomerulonephritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a multipotent cytokine involved in the turnover of the extracellular matrix. Signal transduction of TGF-beta is regulated via at least five different surface receptors; most of the effects, however, are mediated through the interaction of receptors type I and II (RI and RII). We investigated the glomerular expression of TGF-beta and its receptors RI and RII in human glomerulonephritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies against TGF-beta isoforms (1,2,3 and 2,3), TGF beta-RI and TGF beta-RII has been carried out on 30 consecutive renal biopsies (5 FSGS, 11 IgAN, 4 MCGN, 6 SLE, 2 RPGN) and on normal kidney tissue.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glomerular immunoreactivity for TGF-beta isoforms correlated with the severity of proliferative lesions: immunofluorescent signal was absent or trace-like in normal kidneys, FSGS, and IgAN with mild mesangial cellularity, and was highest in IgAN with severe mesangial proliferation, MPGN, RPGN, and SLE. Glomerular positivity for TGF-beta-RI and -RII was detectable in SLE and RPGN; a low signal was present also in MPGN. Other types of glomerulonephritis, including focal extracapillary proliferations, and glomeruli of normal kidneys were always negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data show that TGF-beta expression is a good indicator of the severity of proliferative glomerular lesions in most, if not all cases and that RI-RII expression occurs at levels detectable with indirect immunofluorescence in limited number of glomerulonephritides, mostly associated with systemic diseases. A complex interaction between TGF-beta and its ligand may represent a critical factor conditioning the tissue response to immunological injury.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Patologia, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Onetti Muda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feriozzi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rahimi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Faraggiana
mesh_terms: D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000378:metabolism; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000378:metabolism; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007536:Isomerism; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta