[Expression of plasma thrombospondin-1 in renal interstitial fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the expression of plasma thrombospondin-1(TSP-1) at different time in protein-overload rats and to analyze the relationship between plasma TSP-1 expression and renal interstitial fibrosis.


METHODS
Forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a bovine serum albumin (BSA) group and a control group after uninephrectomization. Rats with protein overload nephropathy induced by intraperitoneally injected BSA were used as a model (control group received saline). At the 1st, 5th, and 9th weekend, the level of 24 h proteinuria and renal function was assessed. Pathological changes were observed by electron and fluorescent microscopy. The expression of plasma TSP-1 was detected by Western blot. The relationship between plasma TSP-1 and tubulointerstitial lesions (TIL) score was analyzed.


RESULTS
Twenty-four hour proteinuria and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) significantly increased in protein-overload rats compared with those in the control group. While protein-overload rats developed more severe fibrosis in the tubular and interstitium. Glomerulosclerosis index and TIL score were upregulated compared with those in the control group. The expression of TSP-1 increased significantly at the 5th and 9th weekend. The expression of TSP-1 was positively correlated with TIL score (r=0.836, P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma TSP-1 expression is positively correlated with renal interstitial fibrosis in protein-overload rats. Plasma TSP-1 may be used for an important biomarker of renal interstitial fibrosis.
Xia
Yuncheng
Y
Department of Nephrology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410011, China.
Nie
Jing
J
Li
Zhilan
Z
Sun
Lin
L
Liu
Yinhong
Y
Ling
Guanghui
G
Peng
Youmin
Y
Liu
Fuyou
F
D000818:Animals; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000473:pathology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019700:Thrombospondin 1 / Q000097:blood*
D019700:Thrombospondin 1