Accurate measurement and clinical significance of urinary transforming growth factor-beta1.
Transforming growth factorbeta1 (TGF-beta1) is the main modulator of the healing process after tissue injury. In the kidney, if TGF-beta1 release is not switched off, extracellular matrix components (ECM) are accumulated and tissue fibrosis occurs. Urinary TGF-beta1 levels reflect its renal production and it has been determined in various types of glomerular disease. In this review, a critical analysis of the different immunoassays that have been used for the measurement of TGF-beta1 in the urine is presented and the importance of the serial determination of urinary TGF-beta1 levels in patients with various types of renal disease is discussed.
Tsakas
Sotiris
S
Laboratory of Biology, Department of Biology, University of Patras, Patras, Greece. stsakas@upatras.gr
Goumenos
Dimitrios S
DS