Stein-Oakley A N, Tzanidis A, Fuller P J, Jablonski P, Thomson N M
Department of Medicine, Monash Medical School, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
Kidney Int. 1994 Oct;46(4):1207-15. doi: 10.1038/ki.1994.386.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a fibrogenic cytokine with a possible role in chronic damage. EGF is also involved in tubular regenerative response to injury. This study investigates the expression and distribution of EGF in a rat model of renal allograft rejection. EGF was localised in control kidneys to distal convoluted tubules (DCT) and thick ascending loop of Henle (TAL). Five days post-transplantation EGF was diffusely distributed. In chronic rejection at one, three and six months, damaged areas of allografts demonstrated faint diffuse EGF staining, while well-preserved areas exhibited the normal distribution pattern. PreproEGF mRNA was significantly reduced (P < 0.01) in acute rejection and in chronic rejection at three months to 28% and 51% of normal, respectively. At six months values ranged from 16% to 166% of normal kidneys, and were inversely correlated with tubular damage (P < 0.01). PreproEGF mRNA was localized to DCT and TAL in controls and in well preserved areas of the tissue in chronic rejection. Thus, EGF would not appear to contribute to the development of injury in chronic renal rejection. It may instead exert a protective effect on tubular structures.
表皮生长因子（EGF）是一种促纤维化细胞因子，可能在慢性损伤中发挥作用。EGF也参与肾小管对损伤的再生反应。本研究调查了EGF在大鼠同种异体肾移植排斥模型中的表达和分布。在对照肾脏中，EGF定位于远端曲管（DCT）和髓袢升支粗段（TAL）。移植后5天，EGF呈弥漫性分布。在1个月、3个月和6个月的慢性排斥反应中，同种异体移植的受损区域显示出微弱的弥漫性EGF染色，而保存良好的区域呈现正常分布模式。在急性排斥反应和3个月的慢性排斥反应中，前体EGF mRNA显著降低（P < 0.01），分别降至正常水平的28%和51%。在6个月时，其值在正常肾脏的16%至166%之间，且与肾小管损伤呈负相关（P < 0.01）。在对照以及慢性排斥反应中组织保存良好的区域，前体EGF mRNA定位于DCT和TAL。因此，EGF似乎不会导致慢性肾排斥反应中损伤的发展。相反，它可能对肾小管结构发挥保护作用。
