title: Significance of vascular endothelial growth factor expression in renal tissue of patients with preeclamptic nephropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It was the aim of this study to evaluate the distribution and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in kidneys of patients with preeclamptic nephropathy and their relationship with clinical and pathological manifestations.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1993 to August 2004, 19 patients with a mean age of 28.1 +/- 4.53 years (range 23-40), diagnosed with preeclamptic nephropathy by renal biopsy, were enrolled in this study. Fifteen were nulliparous and 4 multipara. Their renal tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical staining by a four-layer peroxidase-antiperoxidase method using monoclonal anti-VEGF. Residual normal renal tissue obtained at nephrectomy served as control. The relationship between the expression pattern of VEGF and clinicopathological features was also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of VEGF markedly increased in renal tissues of patients with preeclamptic nephropathy at the early stage of gestation termination in comparison with normal controls. However, over time, it gradually decreased and reached the level of normal controls (100 vs. 71.43 vs. 20%, p < 0.05). The degree of endothelial proliferation in the glomeruli was closely related to the expression of VEGF, which was stronger in patients with diffuse endothelial proliferation than in those with segment proliferation (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a proportional relationship between the expression of VEGF and the level of urinary protein excretion (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patients with preeclamptic nephropathy showed strong expressions of VEGF in glomeruli, which were closely associated with glomerular endothelial lesions and proteinuria, and over time, gradually weakened to normal level after gestation termination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University, School of Medicine, Nangjing, China. tangdr@public1.ptt.js.cn
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hongqi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Huiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Leishi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004727:Endothelium / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A