title: Expression of fibrosis-related genes in human renal allografts with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gene expression analysis of fibrosis-related genes may became useful for the early identification of fibrosis processes. We quantitatively assessed messenger RNA transcripts of the CTGF, TGF-β and KIM-1 genes, in biopsy samples from renal transplant recipients with graft dysfunction, to test the hypothesis that in patients with chronic disease of the renal transplant, these molecules could be markers of the development and severity of graft fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-six kidney transplant recipients who undertook 121 indication graft biopsies between January 2008 and December 2009 were included. Patients and biopsies were classified into 4 major diagnostic groups according to the Banff 2007 classification: acute tubular necrosis (ATN; n = 20), acute rejection (AR; n = 58), acute calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (CIN; n = 13) and interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IF/TA; n = 30).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Messenger RNA transcripts of the CTGF and TGF-β genes were significantly higher in IF/TA compared with all other conditions. Messenger RNA transcripts of the KIM-1 gene in the IF/TA group were higher than in the CIN group. In addition, it was observed that gene expression of CTGF, TGF-β and KIM-1 increased with severity of fibrosis observed in the pathological examinations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gene expression evaluation of the kidney graft tissue may be used to improve pathological diagnosis and perhaps for the future development of noninvasive biomarkers.
authors: Postgraduate Medical Sciences Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre - Brazil.
authors: Aline L
authors: AL
authors: Nogare
authors: Tiago
authors: T
authors: Dalpiaz
authors: José A
authors: JA
authors: Pedroso
authors: Rosângela M
authors: RM
authors: Montenegro
authors: Karla L
authors: KL
authors: Pegas
authors: Francisco V
authors: FV
authors: Veronese
authors: Luiz F
authors: LF
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Roberto C
authors: RC
authors: Manfro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D064591:Allografts; D001284:Atrophy / Q000235:genetics; D001706:Biopsy; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000072596:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C491143:HAVCR1 protein, human; D000072596:Hepatitis A Virus Cellular Receptor 1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor