Infiltration of nestin-expressing cells in interstitial fibrosis in chronic cyclosporine nephropathy.
BACKGROUND
Nestin-expressing cells play a role in the repair process of injured tissues and organs. This study examined the nestin-expressing cells in interstitial fibrosis in experimental chronic cyclosporine A (CsA) nephropathy.


METHODS
Sprague Dawley rats were treated daily for 1 or 4 weeks with CsA (15 mg/kg) or vehicle (VH; olive oil, 1 mg/kg). Nestin mRNA expression was evaluated with reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction, and nestin-expressing cells were detected immunohistochemically. Localization of nestin was performed with double labeling studies for vimentin, aquaporin 1, or calbindin D28K.


RESULTS
Nestin mRNA expression was not different between VH- and CsA-treated rat kidneys. Nestin-expressing cells were rarely observed in the cortex in the VH group, but CsA-induced renal injury caused an increase in nestin-expressing cells in the cortex in a time-dependent manner. Nestin-expressing cells in the CsA group were localized to the area of interstitial fibrosis, and the number of nestin-expressing cells well correlated with the score of interstitial fibrosis (r=0.898). Nestin-expressing cells did not express vimentin, aquaporin 1, or calbindin D28K.


CONCLUSIONS
CsA-induced renal injury recruits nestin-expressing cells to injured areas, and these cells might be involved in reparative fibrosis in the progression of chronic CsA nephropathy.
Ahn
Kyung Ohk
KO
Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
Li
Can
C
Lim
Sun Woo
SW
Song
Hyun Kuk
HK
Ghee
Jung Yeon
JY
Kim
Su Hyun
SH
Kim
Jin Young
JY
Yoon
Hye Eun
HE
Cha
Jung Ho
JH
Kim
Jin
J
Yang
Chul Woo
CW
D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000633:toxicity*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D064231:Nestin; D009926:Organ Preservation / Q000379:methods; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; C577484:NES protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C577486:Nes protein, rat; D064231:Nestin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016572:Cyclosporine