[Expression and significance of monocyte chemoattractant protein-i in rat kidney with unilateral ureteral obstruction].

Objective: To investigate the renal expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in rat with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and its association with macrophages infiltration in renal interstitium.

Methods: Sixty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into UUO and sham-operation (SOR) groups. The kidneys were harversted at 1, 4, 7, 10 and 14 d after the operation. Immunohistochemistry was used on the renal tissue for MCP-1 and ED-1 which was a marker of macrophage. Histological changes were also observed by HE and Masson staining.

Results: Compared with the SOR group, there was a significant increase in MCP-1, ED-1 expression in the UUO group (P < 0.05). The expression intensity of MCP-1 was correlated with the interstitial macrophages accumulation and interstitial fibrosis (r = 0.865, 0.928, 0.858, 0.893, and 0. 873; r = 0.856, 0.896, 0.686, 0.820, and 0.867, respectively; P < 0.05). Interstitial macrophage infiltration was correlated with the grade of interstitial fibrosis too (r = 0.942, 0.898, 0.920, 0.914, and 0.829, P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Elevated MCP-1 expression might be responsible for the macrophages infiltration and interstitial fibrosis in the obstructed kidney.