title: The effect of connective tissue growth factor on renal fibrosis and podocyte injury in hypertensive rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the roles of podocalyxin (PCX) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were divided into groups referred to as SHR 12W, SHR 24W, WKY 12W and WKY 24W. Systolic blood pressure and 24-hour total uric protein were measured every two weeks in the respective groups. CTGF, PCX, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen-III were evaluated via immunohistochemical staining. In addition, CTGF, PCX, and α-SMA gene expression levels were determined by analyzing mRNA levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More kidney lesions occurred alongside foot processes effacement in SHR 24W rats than in SHR 12W rats. In SHR 12W rats, blood pressure and 24-hour total uric protein level were elevated and continued to increase thereafter. In the SHR 12W and SHR 24W groups, the expression of CTGF, α-SMA and collagen-III was significantly increased. Immunohistochemical staining showed that PCX expression was significantly reduced in the SHR group and CTGF expression was increased. A significant decrease in PCX mRNA and an increase in CTGF mRNA were observed in SHR 24W rats relative to SHR 12W rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the overexpression of CTGF and the loss of podocalyxin reflect renal damage in spontaneously hypertensive rats. CTGF and PCX may be involved in the mechanisms of podocyte injury and apoptosis induced by hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University , Wuhan, Hubei Province , P.R. China .
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Shuhua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yipeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009400:Nephrosclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D050199:Podocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; C001643:podocalyxin; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat
keywords: Connective tissue growth factor; hypertension; podocalyxin; podocyte; renal fibrosis