Growth hormone promotes glomerular lipid accumulation in bGH mice.

Background: Bovine growth hormone (bGH) transgenic mice develop progressive glomerulosclerosis and exhibit abnormalities in hepatic lipid metabolism. We have previously shown that growth hormone up-regulates the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) in mouse mesangial cells. However, a role of lipid abnormalities in bGH kidney disease has not yet been demonstrated.

Growth hormone increases low-density lipoprotein receptor and HMG-CoA reductase mRNA expression in mesangial cells.

A dysregulation of the negative feedback mechanism of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-r) induced by hormones and cytokines may contribute to the development of glomerular injury and specifically could underlie growth hormone (GH)-induced glomerulosclerosis. The present study investigates the role of GH in the regulation of LDL-r and HMG-CoA reductase mRNA expression in mesangial cells. Mouse mesangial cells were equilibrated in a medium containing 5% lipoprotein-deprived serum (LPDS) for 48 h, prior to addition of GH (0.