Hepatocyte growth factor ameliorates progression of interstitial fibrosis in rats with established renal injury.
BACKGROUND
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been reported to prevent injury in several models of renal disease; however, whether HGF can also retard progression of established renal disease is not known.


METHODS
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of HGF on progression of chronic renal disease in rats with remnant kidneys and established injury. Studies were performed in rats that underwent subtotal nephrectomy, were observed for two weeks without therapy, and then randomized to receive HGF or vehicle by continuous infusion for an additional two weeks.


RESULTS
HGF administration was associated with a reduction in morphologic evidence of interstitial, but not glomerular injury. The beneficial effects of HGF were not associated with reductions in the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), or in the extent epithelial cell apoptosis or transdifferentiation. Rather, HGF appeared to induce fibrinolytic pathways by increasing expression of metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and decreasing levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-2). HGF administration was also associated with an apparent increase in renal endothelin production and a significant reduction in glomerular capillary pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that HGF can retard progression of chronic renal disease even after injury is already established, primarily by promoting matrix degradation.
Dworkin
Lance D
LD
Brown Medical School, and Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. ldworkin@lifespan.org
Gong
Rujun
R
Tolbert
Evelyn
E
Centracchio
Jason
J
Yano
Nahiro
N
Zanabli
Abdul R
AR
Esparza
Alfredo
A
Rifai
Abdalla
A
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007687:Kidney Tubules, Proximal / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D003404:Creatinine; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9