title: Expression of mRNA for growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins after injury to cultured peritoneal cells: does the healing process contribute to peritoneal ultrastructural alteration?
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility that healing processes following repeated injury by nonphysiological dialysate play a significant role in the pathogenesis of peritoneal ultrastructural alteration, mediated by the production of growth factors and extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). To test a possible mechanism for peritoneal membrane alteration, we investigated whether chemically injured peritoneal mesothelial cells and fibroblasts upregulate their production of growth factors and ECM as a consequence of the healing process. Using 1 N NaOH, circular wounds of uniform surface area were made in monolayers of subconfluent rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMC) and peritoneal fibroblasts (RPFB). At 0, 24, and 72 h after wounding, changes in mRNA expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-Beta1), b-FGF, HGF, VEGF, and FN were semiquantified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Nonwounded monolayers of RPMC and RPFB were used as controls with mRNA expression being determined at the same times. For RPMC, TGF-Beta1, HGF, b-FGF, and FN mRNA gradually increased up to 72 h postwounding to 1.5-fold, 1.6-fold, 1.3-fold, and 2.1-fold of the control levels, respectively. A significant increase was only observed for TGF-Beta1, while VEGF showed the least change with time. For RPFB, HGF, b-FGF, VEGF, and FN mRNA expression were slightly suppressed compared to control levels up to 72 h postwounding. TGF-Beta1, however, increased markedly above control expression levels by the end of the wound healing process. The production of profibrotic growth factors by mesothelial cells in response to injury may represent a mechanism whereby fibroblast activation, resulting in fibroblast hyperplasia and excessive extracellular matrix accumulation, culminates in alteration of the peritoneal membrane ultrastructure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan. tnasu@shaho-tokuyama.tokuyama.yamaguchi.jp
authors.forename: Koki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujikawa
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Akinobu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: Katusuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Atushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohata
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakasone
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horiuchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010538:Peritonitis; D011336:Probability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D012333:RNA, Messenger