title: Expression and role of integrin-linked kinase and collagen IV in human renal allografts with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and collagen IV in renal allografts with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA) in kidney transplant recipients, and explore its relationship with transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) expression and the pathogenesis of IF/TA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Immunohistochemical assay and computer-assisted genuine colored image analysis system were used to detect the expression of ILK, TGF-beta(1) and collagen IV in the renal allografts with IF/TA. The association between TGF-beta(1), collagen IV and ILK, as well as the relationship between their expressions and the pathological class of IF/TA, was analyzed. 10 specimens of healthy renal tissue were used as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression levels of ILK, TGF-beta(1) and collagen IV in renal allografts were significantly higher, compared to normal renal tissues (P<0.001), and the expressions tended to increase along with the increase of pathological class of IF/TA. In IF/TA group, the expression of ILK was positively correlated with the expression of TGF-beta(1) and collagen IV (r=0.976 and r=0.912, respectively; P<0.001 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that by the data that ILK might mediate the mechanism through which TGF-beta(1) promote the abnormal deposition of ECM in renal allografts with IF/TA. ILK might play an important role in the progression of the interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy of human renal allografts and the development of chronic renal allograft dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Dialysis and Kidney Transplantation Center of PLA, No 181 Hospital of PLA, Guilin 541002, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Shuiyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Huaizhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shenping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Guimian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Junjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Hequn
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zou
mesh_terms: D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000201:enzymology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK
chemical_list: D024141:Collagen Type IV; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000099200:Scaffold Protein ILK