title: Fibrogenic growth factors in encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Increased local levels of fibrogenic growth hormones contribute substantially to the process of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) in animal models.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed probes from patients with normal kidney function (n = 10), with normal kidney function and inflammation (n = 10), on PD without (n = 10) and with EPS (n = 9). We investigated the degree of fibrosis and the number of vessels and vasculopathy. Additionally, we investigated the expression of NFkappaB, TGFbeta1, TGFbeta1 receptor, TGFbeta2, TGFbeta2 receptor, FGF-BP, CTGF and VEGF by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In EPS, we found an exclusive upregulation of VEGF (normal 0, appendicitis 1.0 +/- 1.2, PD 1.7 +/- 1.8 and EPS 5.7 +/- 4.4; p < 0.0001), whereas in PD, CTGF was significantly increased (normal 6.0 +/- 2.8, appendicitis 7.3 +/- 2.5, PD 10.0 +/- 1.8 and EPS 7.3 +/- 2.1; p = 0.0059). The results for the TGFbeta system and NFkappaB were not uniform, in EPS no increases were demonstrable. Vasculopathy was significantly more pronounced in EPS (normal 0.4 +/- 0.5, appendicitis 0.2 +/- 0.3, PD 1.0 +/- 0.7 and EPS 1.6 +/- 1.2; p < 0.0001) than in PD or inflammation (normal 30 +/- 16, appendicitis 82 +/- 48, PD 1,936 +/- 952 and EPS 2,613 +/- 1,209; p < 0.0001), whereas the density of vessels were decreased (normal 125 +/- 114, appendicitis 817 +/- 347, PD 81 +/- 57 and EPS 36 +/- 33; p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The process of EPS was associated with increased VEGF in the peritoneum. The reduced density of vessels compared with marked fibrosis could point to hypoxia as an inducer.
authors: Division of General Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Robert Bosch Hospital, Stuttgart, Germany. niko.braun@rbk.de
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Braun
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Reimold
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Biegger
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Fritz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Kimmel
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ulmer
authors: M D
authors: MD
authors: Alscher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D056627:Peritoneal Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins