Gene expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and PDGF receptor in glomerulonephritis

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We investigated whether gene expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or its receptor (PDGF-R) was upregulated in a rat model of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis induced with a single intravenous injection of anti-thymocyte serum. A marked increase in both PDGF B-chain and PDGF-R beta-Subunit was demonstrated in glomerular RNA by Northern blot analysis 3 and 5 days after disease induction, corresponding to the time of mesangial cell proliferation. Both complement depletion and platelet depletion significantly reduced glomerular cell proliferation and gene expression of PDGF and PDGF-R. Thus, it is suggested that the upregulation of PDGF and PDGF-R expression may play an important role in the pathogenesis of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis.We also investigated the localization of PDGF B-chain in the glomeruli of murine lupus nephritis. Immunohistochemistry revealed PDGF B-chain in Glomeruli and crescents from MRL/l mice at 20 weeks of age, corresponding to the time of glomerular cell proliferation and crescent formation. These results suggest that PDGF B-chain plays an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.