Expression of nephrin,TGF-β1 and WT1 in adriamycin-induced-nephropathy rat model and its significance

Objective To investigate podocyte number,the expression of nephrin and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) in adriamycin-induced-nephropathy rat model and its significance.Methods The rat adriamycin nephrosis model was constructed to detect blood and urine biochemical indicators and observe the pathological changes of renal tissues by light microscope and electron microscope.The expression levels of nephrin and TGF-β1 as well as the podocyte number were examined at different time points by immunohistochemistry.Results The pathological changes of the renal tissues were obvious.Nephrin presented a weak signal at the end of the first week(P0.05).TGF-β1 started to increase(P0.05) while the podocyte number started to decrease at the end of the eighth week(P0.05).Expression of nephrin was negatively correlated with the 24h urinary protein(r=-0.83,P0.01),blood urea nitrogen(r=-0.68,P0.05) and serum creatinine(r=-0.71,P0.05).Expression of TGF-β1 was positively correlated with the 24h urinary protein(r=0.45,P0.05),blood urea nitrogen(r=0.62,P0.05) and serum creatinine(r=0.59,P0.05).The podocyte number was negatively correlated with the 24h urinary protein(r=-0.63,P0.05),blood urea nitrogen(r=-0.72,P0.05) and serum creatinine(r=-0.76,P0.05);it was positively correlated with nephrin(r=0.78,P0.01) but negatively correlated with TGF-β1(r=-0.64,P0.05).Conclusion The acute and chronic adriamycin nephrosis models were successfully established by injecting adriamycin 4mg/kg into tail vein twice every two weeks.The genesis and development of proteinuria are closely related to the abnormal expression of nephrin.Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis occurs when the podocyte number decreases and TGF-β1 accelerates it.