Connective tissue growth factor is responsible for transforming growth factor-beta-induced peritoneal mesothelial cell apoptosis.

Background: Previous studies found that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces mesothelial production of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), which may be downstream mediators of TGF-beta. Since high dose TGF-beta induces apoptosis of peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMC), we study the effect of CTGF blockade in the system of TGF-beta-induced PMC apoptosis.

Method: We examined the effect of TGF-W in primary culture of rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMC).

mRNA expression of target genes in the urinary sediment as a noninvasive prognostic indicator of CKD.

Background: Study of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of target genes in urinary sediment was suggested as a noninvasive marker of renal damage in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKDs). We studied the relationship between urinary mRNA expression of target genes and risk for renal function deterioration in patients with CKD.

Methods: We studied 131 patients with CKD with kidney biopsy.

Messenger RNA expression of glomerular podocyte markers in the urinary sediment of acquired proteinuric diseases.

Background: Podocyte slit diaphragm plays an important role in the control of glomerular permeability. We hypothesize that studying the gene expression profile of podocyte in urinary sediment may provide diagnostic and prognostic information on acquired proteinuric diseases.

Methods: We studied 28 patients who required kidney biopsy for acquired proteinuric diseases (diabetic glomerulosclerosis, 9 cases; IgA nephropathy, 10 cases; minimal change disease, 5 cases; membranous nephropathy, 5 cases).

The relationship between peritoneal transport characteristics and messenger RNA expression of aquaporin in the peritoneal dialysis effluent of CAPD patients.

Background: Cell culture experiments show that peritoneal mesothelial cells express aquaporin-1 (AQP1) and aquaporin-3 (AQP3), which can be important for peritoneal transport. However, the functional relevance of aquaporin in mesothelial cells remains uncertain because endothelial cells are generally regarded as the major barrier of peritoneal transport.

Methods: We studied 74 prevalent peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

Differential effects of transforming growth factor-beta on the synthesis of connective tissue growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor by peritoneal mesothelial cell.

Background: Previous studies found that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a conflicting role in peritoneal fibrosis. We hypothesise that TGF-beta acts on peritoneal mesothelial cells (PMC) via VEGF and CTGF as downstream mediators.

Methods: The effect of TGF-beta in primary culture of rat PMC was studied.

Messenger RNA expression of target genes in the urinary sediment of patients with chronic kidney diseases.

Background: The degree of renal scarring in kidney biopsy is an important prognostic factor in patients with chronic kidney diseases. We hypothesize that gene expression in the urinary sediment reflects the degree of renal damage.

Methods: We studied 29 patients with chronic kidney disease who underwent kidney biopsy (12 immunoglobulin-A nephropathy and 17 glomerulosclerosis) and 10 healthy controls.

Expression of chemokine and fibrosing factor messenger RNA in the urinary sediment of patients with lupus nephritis.

Objective: Lupus nephritis is characterized by intrarenal inflammation. To assess the extent and severity of disease activity and renal involvement, this study examined the expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in the urinary sediment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: We studied 106 patients with SLE who were classified according to their disease status as those with active disease, those with disease in remission, and those with nonrenal SLE.

Genetic polymorphism of VEGF: Impact on longitudinal change of peritoneal transport and survival of peritoneal dialysis patients.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in the peritoneal angiogenesis and hyperpermeability in patients on peritoneal dialysis. We hypothesis that VEGF genetic polymorphism may affect the longitudinal change of peritoneal transport and clinical outcome of peritoneal dialysis patients.

Methods: We studied 135 consecutive new peritoneal dialysis patients.

Association of ENOS polymorphism with basal peritoneal membrane function in uremic patients.

Background: Basal peritoneal permeability has a major impact on the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, but the determinant of this is unknown. Early evidence suggests that peritoneal permeability is affected by nitric oxide (NO) activity. Recently, a gene polymorphism of the endothelial NO synthase (ENOS) gene was identified that is associated with circulating nitrate levels.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 polymorphism is associated with progressive renal dysfunction after acute rejection in renal transplant recipients.

Background: Plasma level of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 is genetically determined by a polymorphism in the promoter region, involving two alleles, 4G and 5G. Plasma PAI-1 concentrations are higher in subjects homozygous for the 4G allele than other genotypes (5G/5G and 4G/5G). Such genetic variation in fibrinolytic system may affect the long-term renal transplant outcome.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 4G/5G genetic polymorphism does not affect peritoneal transport characteristic.

There is evidence that type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) may have an important role in peritoneal function. We studied the effect of physiologically relevant PAI-1 promotor polymorphisms on peritoneal permeability. We performed a standard peritoneal equilibration test (PET) in 100 new continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.