[Effects of urokinase on renal interstitial fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta1 in the kidney of rats with chronic cyclosporine A nephropathy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of urokinase on renal interstitial fibrosis and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the kidney of rats with chronic cyclosporine A nephropathy.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley rats on low-salt diet were randomly divided into control (VH), CsA-treated (CsA), CsA+2000 U/kg.day uPA (CsA+U2) and CsA+6000 U.kg.3 days (CsA+U6) groups. The rats were given CsA intragastrically for 4 weeks to prepare CsA-induced chronic nephropathy model. Masson staining was used to examine fibrin deposition. Western blotting and reversal transcription polymerase chain reaction were employed to evaluate urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and TGF-beta1 protein and gene expressions, respectively.


RESULTS
CsA can increase fibrin deposition and the expression of TGF-beta1 in the renal tissue, which were significantly reduced after uPA treatment (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous low-dose uPA treatment can reduce renal interstitial fibrosis in rats possibly in association with its inhibitory effect on TGF-beta1 expression.
Wang
Yin
Y
Deparment of Nephrology, Guangzhou General Hospital of Guangzhou Command, Guangzhou 510010, China. yinwang138@126.com
Tong
Jun-rong
JR
Luo
Zheng-mao
ZM
He
Feng
F
Ma
Li
L
D000818:Animals; D016572:Cyclosporine; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D016572:Cyclosporine; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator