Renal expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and epidermal growth factor in children with obstructive hydronephrosis.
OBJECTIVE
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.
Bartoli
F
F
Cattedra di Chirurgia Pediatrica, Dipartimento di Biomedicina dell'Età Evolutiva, Università di Bari, Italy.
Gesualdo
L
L
Paradies
G
G
Caldarulo
E
E
Infante
B
B
Grandaliano
G
G
Monno
R
R
Leggio
S
S
Salzillo
F
F
Schena
F P
FP
Leggio
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor