title: Circulating VEGF and TGF-beta1 in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The implications of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) on the development of proteinuria were studied by measuring the mRNA and protein levels of VEGF and TGF-beta1 in 43 children with primary nephrotic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-seven patients were in the active nephrotic phase at the time of sampling (Group 1), and 16 were in remission (Group 2). In Group 1, 16 were steroid-responders (Group 1a) and 11 were nonresponders (Group 1b). Minimal change lesion (MCL) in 11 patients and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in 8 were confirmed by renal biopsy. The mRNA expressions of peripheral blood lymphocytes and the plasma levels of proteins were measured by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma VEGF concentration was higher in Group 1 (204+/-137 pg/mL) than Group 2 (91+/-72 pg/mL) (P=0.002). However, there was no significant difference either between Group 1a (184+/-146 pg/mL) and Group 1b (258+/-134 pg/mL) or between patients with FSGS (330+/-122 pg/mL) and those with MCL (146+/-112 pg/mL). The VEGF mRNA expression showed changes similar to VEGF protein expression, and there was no statistical significance. Plasma levels and mRNA expressions of TGF-beta1 were similar in all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that circulating VEGF is associated with proteinuria both in steroid-responsive and steroid-resistant primary nephrotic syndrome in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Korea. cheonghi@plaza.snu.ac.kr
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors