PDGF-B gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms are not predictive for disease onset or progression of IgA nephropathy.
BACKGROUND
Few genetic factors have been identified that determine susceptibility to and progression of IgA-nephropathy (IgAN). Given that IgAN is usually characterized by mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis and that PDGF-B is of central pathophysiological relevance in this process, we analyzed four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PDGF-B gene to evaluate a possible association of these SNPs with disease onset and progression, histological grading and responses to ACE inhibitor (ACEi) therapy.


METHODS
The total study population consisted of 195 IgAN patients (127 from southern Italy and 68 from northern Germany) and 200 healthy controls (100 from each region). All four SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and genotype distributions did not differ between patients and controls in either region.


RESULTS
SNP distribution in Italian patients reaching end-stage renal disease (n=45) also was not significantly different from patients maintaining a serum creatinine below 1.2 mg/dl (n=60) during 5.6 +/- 5.5 years of follow-up. Furthermore, we failed to detect significant effects of any SNP on the slope of 1/serum creatinine, proteinuria level or the antiproteinuric response to ACEi. Additionally, particular PDGF-B genotypes did not correlate with histological grading using the Lee classification.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that none of the four PDGF-B SNPs is related to the onset of IgAN in two different populations and that none of them has a major influence on the course of IgAN.
Bicanski
B
B
Division of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH University of Aachen, Germany. BojanBicanski@gmx.de
Wenderdel
M
M
Mertens
Peter R
PR
Senderek
J
J
Panzer
U
U
Steinmetz
O
O
Stahl
R A K
RA
Cerullo
G
G
Diletta Torres
D
D
Schena
F P
FP
Zerres
K
K
Floege
J
J
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D018450:Disease Progression; D020571:Genes, sis; D005858:Germany; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor