URINARY EXCRETION OF PROFIBROTIC AND ANTIFIBROTIC GROWTH FACTORS IN TYPE 1 DIABETIC PATIENTS: THE RELATION WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Abstract

Aim. To assess the relation between urinary excretion of profibrotic and antifibrotic growth factors, albuminuria and glomerular fibrosis in type 1 diabetic patients. Materials and methods. 64 patients with diabetes were examined, including 25 ones with normal albumin excretion rate (AER), 30 microalbuminuric and 9 macroalbuminuric patients. Urinary excretion of type IV collagen, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-ß1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) was determined by ELISA and compared to control (10 healthy subjects). Renal biopsy specimens were assessed in 7 patients with normal AER and in 14 microalbuminuric patients. Results. Type IV collagen, TGF-β1 and TNF-α excretion was increased significantly in patients with micro- and macroalbuminuria as compared to control (all p

Keywords

• type 1 diabetes
• diabetic nephropathy
• growth factors
• renal fibrosis