Osteopontin gene polymorphism in association with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese patients.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is one kind of cytokine which can play a number of roles in promoting activation of T lymphocyte, regulating balance between Th1 and Th2, participating in cell-induced immunologic response and stimulating B lymphocyte to express multi-clone antibodies. Some researches have showed that OPN may be involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to investigate possible association of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position 9250 in exon 7 of the OPN gene (OPN gene 9250) with SLE in Chinese patients.

[Clinical and pathological characteristics of patients with glomerular hematuria as the major manifestation].

Objective: To compare the clinical and pathological characteristics between patients with and without glomerular hematuria.

Methods: Totally 310 patients with isolated microscopic hematuria and 24-hour urinary protein <0.5 g were enrolled in this study, who were free of renal calculi, infections, or tumors.

[Clinical features and prognosis of IgA nephropathy with glomerular crescents].

Objective: To understand the clinical features and prognosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients with glomerular crescents.

Methods: The clinical data collected at the time of renal biopsy and the follow-up data of 89 IgAN patients with glomerular crescents were analyzed with 412 IgAN patients without crescents serving as the control group. Follow-up study was conducted in 78 patients with crescents and 198 without it, and the renal survival rate was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

[Effects of losartan on MT3-MMP and TIMP2 mRNA expressions in diabetic rat kidney].

Objective: To investigate the changes of the mRNA expressions of membrane type 3-matrix metalloproteinase (MT3-MMP) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) in diabetic rat kidneys and the effect of losartan on such changes.

Methods: Three groups of male Wistar rats were used in this study, namely group A as the control group (n=11), group B consisting of diabetic rats without any therapy (n=11), and group C treated with losartan (n=9). Six months after treatment, the kidneys were taken from the rats to measure the mRNA expressions of MT3-MMP, TIMP2 and transforming growth factor beta1eTGFbeta1 with reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR), and observe the glomerular basement membrane thickening and mesangial matrix MMedensity (MM area/mesangial area) with electron microscope.