Transforming growth factor-beta in urine of anti-glomerular basement membrane disease in the rabbit

초록

Transforming growth factor-beta (TOP-fl) secreted from all animal cells is an important regulatory factor sup- pressing abnormal growth and proliferation of cells in maintaining normal tissue. Among many other functions of TOF-fi, it is also well known that it plays an important role during collagen synthetic process, so we can easily postulate that there should be close relationship between TOP-fl production and fibrosis, the end stage of organ failure. Authors sampled urines from each of 15 rabbits at scheduled time points before and after inducing crescentic glomerulonephritis by subcutaneous injection of guinea pig IgO and complete Preund's adjuvant accompanied by intravenous injection of guinea pig anti rabbit anti glomerular basement membrane antibody. TOP-fl activity in the urine was estimated by bio-immunoassay using anti-TGF-fl antibody. Mink lung epithelial cell was used as a sensor system for detecting TOP-fl antibody in the urine. Results were as follows: (1.) TOP-fl! is excreted in urine of normal rabbits as well as rabbits with anti-OEM antibody induced crescentic glomerulonephritis. (2.) The pattern of TOP-fl activity in the urine at each time point was very much similar to that in the acid-activated cortical supernatant. This indicates that TOP-fl activity in urine may reflect total cortical TOP-fl production acid-activated by physiologic low pH of urine and unknown mechanisms.