Thrombospondin-2 therapy ameliorates experimental glomerulonephritis via inhibition of cell proliferation, inflammation, and TGF-β activation

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (5) ◽  
pp. F1299-F1309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph Daniel ◽  
Andrea Wagner ◽  
Bernd Hohenstein ◽  
Christian Hugo

We recently identified thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) as an endogenous regulator of matrix remodelling and inflammation in experimental kidney disease by studying TSP-2-deficient mice. In this study, we asked whether systemic TSP-2 overexpression via thigh muscle transfection is able to ameliorate the time course of the anti-Thy1 glomerulonephritis model. After induction of anti-Thy1 nephritis, rats were transfected either with an overexpression plasmid for TSP-2 or lacZ as a control. Biopsies, urine, and blood samples were taken on days 1, 3, and 6 after disease induction. Muscular overexpression of TSP-2 reduced glomerular transforming growth factor (TGF)-β activation and glomerular extracellular matrix formation as determined by collagen IV and fibronectin. In addition, activation of mesangial cells to the myofibroblast-like phenotype was also significantly decreased in TSP-2-overexpressing animals. TSP-2 overexpression inhibited both glomerular endothelial and mesangial cell proliferation, resulting in a reduced glomerular cell number and glomerular tuft area. The inflammatory response, as monitored by T cells and antigen-presenting cells, was reduced significantly by TSP-2 overexpression, but influx of macrophages was unchanged. These data demonstrate TSP-2 as a potential therapeutic agent to inhibit the glomerular proliferative and inflammatory response as well as TGF-β activation and extracellular matrix accumulation in experimental mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.

1992 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. S126
Author(s):  
R B Sterzel ◽  
E Schulze-Lohoff ◽  
M Weber ◽  
S L Goodman

This brief overview summarizes recent information on the interactions of glomerular mesangial cells (MC) with soluble cytokines and nonsoluble extracellular matrix (ECM). The presently available knowledge stems largely from glomerular cell culture studies and from experimental work with laboratory animals. ECM production by MC appears to be regulated primarily by the paracrine or autocrine effects of cytokines, such as interleukin 1, platelet-derived growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta. However, ECM itself also affects the behavior of cultured MC, e.g., with regard to cell replication and the production of ECM components and other proteins. At present, little is known about the recognition of ECM and cytokines by MC that allows these interactions to take place. First results indicate that MC, like other cell types, possess surface proteins belonging to the beta 1 integrin family, which serve as specific receptors for ECM molecules. Receptors for the cytokines platelet-derived growth factor, insulin-like growth factor 1, epidermal growth factor, and transforming growth factor beta have also been demonstrated on MC. The expression of various receptors on MC appears to be affected by the ECM substratum. Thus, it is becoming apparent that mesangial ECM is not only important as a mechanical scaffold of the glomerular capillary tuft but that it also contains and conveys information relevant for the regulation of the MC phenotype, e.g., by modulating the MC response to cytokines. The available evidence suggests that alterations of ECM composition in glomerular disease can directly or indirectly affect MC behavior, e.g., by promoting cell replication and further accumulation of ECM, eventually resulting in progressive mesangial and glomerular sclerosis.


1999 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
SHARON J. ELLIOT ◽  
LILIANE J. STRIKER ◽  
WILLIAM G. STETLER-STEVENSON ◽  
TERRY A. JACOT ◽  
GARY E. STRIKER

Abstract. Glomerulosclerosis is characterized by extracellular matrix accumulation and is often associated with mesangial cell proliferation. Heparin-like molecules have been shown to decrease glomerulosclerosis in vivo, although their cellular site and mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, a line of glomerular mesangial cells derived from normal mice was used to determine whether pentosan polysulfate (PPS) inhibited proliferation and altered extracellular matrix turnover. Cells treated with PPS showed a decrease in cell number beginning 24 h after treatment, which was maintained for 5 d. For matrix accumulation and degradation studies, cells were treated for 5 d and collagen types I and IV protein were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) measured by zymography. Collagen types I and type IV were significantly decreased in the media (P < 0.0001) and cell layer (P < 0.005) after treatment with PPS but not after treatment with heparin. By zymography, MMP-2 was significantly increased after treatment with PPS (P < 0.001) and heparin (P < 0.05). PPS and heparin also decreased MMP-9 (P < 0.001) after treatment. Reverse zymography showed the presence of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 and -2 in control mesangial cells. Treatment with PPS and heparin increased TIMP-1. In addition, TIMP-3 was found in the medium of treated but not control cells. In conclusion, PPS alters extracellular matrix turnover through the induction of MMP-2 and alterations in the TIMP profile and may be useful in decreasing progressive glomerulosclerosis.


1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1668-1678
Author(s):  
K Nishimoto ◽  
H Shiiki ◽  
T Nishino ◽  
H Uyama ◽  
M Iwano ◽  
...  

The present study was performed to assess the pathogenetic role of glomerular hypertrophy in patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). We studied 14 patients with FSGS by morphometry. In seven patients, minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) was diagnosed on the first renal biopsy, but FSGS was diagnosed on the second biopsy (MCNS-FSGS group). Seven other patients with FSGS on the first biopsy underwent second biopsies while in remission (FSGS-R group). Biopsy results were compared with biopsies from 10 patients with MCNS and seven control subjects. Nonsclerotic glomeruli were examined. The mean glomerular tuft area, whole glomerular area, and number of mesangial cells were significantly increased in both biopsies from the MCNS-FSGS group and in the first biopsies obtained during the nephrotic stage of the FSGS-R group, compared with control subjects and patients with MCNS. Biopsies from FSGS patients in remission showed that the mean glomerular tuft area and number of mesangial cells were significantly decreased. The fractional extracellular matrix area (extracellular matrix area/glomerular tuft area) and mesangial cell density (mesangial cell number/glomerular tuft area) in FSGS during both nephrotic and remission stages were the same as those in control subjects and patients with MCNS. The present study suggests that glomerular hypertrophy precedes the development of glomerulosclerosis in FSGS and is reversible when patients are in remission. These features support the pathogenetic importance of glomerular hypertrophy in patients with primary FSGS.


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