Nephrol Dial Transplant (2003) 18: 1286-1292
© 2003 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association
Vascular endothelial growth factor expression and glomerular endothelial cell loss in the remnant kidney model
Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, Fitzroy, Australia
Background. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is constitutively expressed in the glomerulus where it may have a role in the maintenance of capillary endothelial cell integrity. The present study sought to examine changes in VEGF expression in a model of progressive renal disease and to assess the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition.
Methods. Subtotal nephrectomized (STNx) rats were randomly assigned to receive vehicle (n=10) or the ACE inhibitor perindopril (8 mg/l drinking water) for 12 weeks duration (n=10). Sham-operated rats were used as controls (n=10). Glomerular capillary endothelial cell density was evaluated by immunostaining for the pan-endothelial cell marker RECA-1 and VEGF expression was assessed by quantitative in situ hybridization.
Results. In STNx rats glomerular capillary endothelial cell density was reduced to 19% that of sham rats (P<0.01) with a concomitant reduction in glomerular VEGF expression, also to 19% of sham rats (P<0.01). Perindopril treatment was associated with normalization of both capillary endothelial cell density and glomerular VEGF mRNA.
Conclusions. Reduction in glomerular VEGF expression is a feature of the renal pathology that follows subtotal nephrectomy. In the context of the known functions of this growth factor, these findings suggest that diminution in VEGF may contribute to the demonstrated loss of glomerular endothelium that develops in this model of progressive renal disease.
Keywords: angiotensin converting enzyme; endothelium; glomerulosclerosis; renin–angiotensin system; vascular endothelial growth factor
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr Darren J. Kelly, Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, St Vincent's Hospital, 29 Regent Street, Fitzroy, 3065 Victoria, Australia. Email: dkelly{at}medstv.unimelb.edu.au
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  F. Diekmann, J. Rovira, J. Carreras, E. M. Arellano, E. Banon-Maneus, M. J. Ramirez-Bajo, A. Gutierrez-Dalmau, M. Brunet, and J. M. Campistol Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Inhibition Halts the Progression of Proteinuria in a Rat Model of Reduced Renal Mass J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., October 1, 2007; 18(10): 2653 - 2660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. Advani, D. J. Kelly, S. L. Advani, A. J. Cox, K. Thai, Y. Zhang, K. E. White, R. M. Gow, S. M. Marshall, B. M. Steer, et al. Role of VEGF in maintaining renal structure and function under normotensive and hypertensive conditions PNAS, September 4, 2007; 104(36): 14448 - 14453. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 D. J. Kelly, D. Buck, A. J. Cox, Y. Zhang, and R. E. Gilbert Effects on protein kinase C-beta inhibition on glomerular vascular endothelial growth factor expression and endothelial cells in advanced experimental diabetic nephropathy Am J Physiol Renal Physiol, August 1, 2007; 293(2): F565 - F574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|