title: Expression of bone morphogenetic proteins 4, 6 and 7 is downregulated in kidney allografts with interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are pleiotropic growth factors. This paper investigates the connection between the expression pattern of BMPs in kidney allograft tissue versus the cause of allograft dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The expression pattern of BMP2, BMP4, BMP6 and BMP7 in 50 kidney allografts obtained by transplant nephrectomy is investigated. Immunohistochemical staining is semiquantitatively evaluated for intensity to identify the expression pattern of BMPs in normal and allograft kidney tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The expression of BMP4 is unique between different tubular cell types in grafts without signs of fibrosis. This effect is not found in specimens with high grades of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). In samples with IFTA grades II and III, the BMP7 expression is reduced in a significant fraction of specimens relative to those without signs of IFTA. The expression pattern of BMP6 indicates that its activation may be triggered by the act of transplantation and subsequent reperfusion injury. The expression of BMP2 is strong in all types of tubular epithelial cells and does not differ between the compared allografts and control kidney specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intensity and expression pattern of BMP4, BMP6 and BMP7 in transplanted kidney tissue are found to be dependent upon the length of the transplanted period, the clinical indication for transplant nephrectomy and signs of IFTA in kidney tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Arterial Hypertension, Dialysis and Transplantation, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kispaticeva 12, 10 000, Zagreb, Croatia, vfcunko@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Furic-Cunko
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kes
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coric
authors.forename: Tvrtko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hudolin
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kastelan
authors.forename: Nikolina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basic-Jukic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D064591:Allografts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001284:Atrophy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins