Transforming Growth Factor-β1 In Patients With Chronic Glomerulonephritis

Objective: prospective, randomized and controlled trial to investigate the correlation between the urinary and serum transforming growth factor- β l(TGF-β 1) levels and the renal pathological features. Meanwhile, to study the significance of the level of the serum and urinary TGF- β 1 in 10 patients treated with prednisone.Methods: 62 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis were enrolled, of whom 43 patients were biopsied. Urinary and serum TGF-β 1 were measured using a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) kit. Urinary and serum β2-MG were measured using the radio-immunological method. 10 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis administered with prednisolone (1mg/kg. day) for mean 2 months were measured urinary and serum TGF- β 1 β 2-MG again. 20 healthy subjects were studied as controls whose urinary and serum TGF- β 1 were measured. Results:1 The median serum and urinary TGF- β1 excretion were significantly higher in 62 chronic glomerulonephritis than in healthy controls. The serum and urinary TGF- β 1 levels were significantly higher in mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis(MPG) and urinary TGF- β 1 levels were higher in focal and segmental proliferative glomerulonephritis(FSPG) and sclerosing glomerulonephritis (SG) than in healthy controls. In patients with minimal change disease(MCD), the TGF-β 1 levels did not differ from those in healthy controls.2 The serum TGF- β 1 level was significantly correlated with the degree of glomerular mesangial proliferation. Whereas the urinary TGF- β 1 excretion was correlated with both the degree of glomerular mesangial proliferation and interstitial inflammation.3 The median serum and urinary TGF- β 1 levels were significantly correlated with creatinine clearances(Ccr).4 The urinary TGF-β 1 level was significantly decreased after prednisone therapy in the chronic glomerulonephritis.Conclusions:1, The urinary TGF- β0 1 level was significantly higher in mMPG SG, FSPGthan in healthy controls and was associated with a progressive renal disease.2 , The urinary TGF- β 1 excretion was significantly correlated with both the degree of glomerular mesangial proliferation and interstitial inflammation which reflected acute glomerular injury.3 The urinary TGF- β 1 level was much more sensitively than the serum TGF-β 1 level to reflect the renal pathological change and the progressive of therenal impairment.4 The urinary TGF- β 1 expression was significantly restrained by prednisonetherapy and the level change may be one of the sensitive indicators whichassess the effect of prednisone therapy in patients with chronicglomerulonephritis.