[Expression of TGF-beta and hepatocyte growth factor in kidney tissues of children with primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the expression of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in kidney tissues of children with primary focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) and the possible role of the two growth factors in the development of FSGS.


METHODS
Kidney specimens were obtained from 33 children with primary FSGS and 7 children with isolated haematuria but without FSGS (control group). Of the 33 children with primary FSGS, 6 children had no renal tubule interstitial pathological damage (Experimental I group) and 27 children had renal tubule interstitial pathological damage (Experimental II group). Expression of TGF-beta and HGF in kidney tissues was ascertained by the immunohistochemical method.


RESULTS
TGF-beta and HGF were expressed in the three groups, but there were significant differences among the three groups. The expression of TGF-beta and HGF in the two experiment groups increased significantly compared with that in the control group. The Experimental II group had increased TGF-beta expression but a significantly decreased HGF expression compared with the Experimental I group. The index of tubule interstitial pathological changes was positively correlated with the TGF-beta expression (r=0.763, P<0.01), but negatively correlated with the HGF expression (r=-0.461, P<0.05) in the Experimental II group. There was a negative correlation between TGF-beta and HGF expression in children with primary FSGS (r=-0.425, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of TGF-beta and HGF in kidney tissues is increased in children with primary FSGS. TGF-beta might be a fibrogenic factor and HGF might be an anti-fibrotic factor in the kidney in primary FSGS.
Wei
Min-Jiang
MJ
Department of Pediatrics, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China. wmj10@126.com
Wu
Wei-Lan
WL
Chen
Min-Yi
MY
D002648:Child; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000032:analysis*
D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor