J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol.  2004 Apr;8(1):1-9.

Effect of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha on Glomerular Epithelial Cells in Glomerular Permeability

• Cho MH
• Lee JH
• Ko CW
• Koo JH

Abstract

PURPOSE
Minimal Change Disease (MCD) is the most common primary nephrotic syndrome in children. Some suggested that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are involved in the pathogenesis of MCD.
METHODS
This study was done to see the changes of plasma and urinary TNF-alpha, and its effect on the determination of permeability of the glomerular basement membrane (BM) contributed by heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG). Study patients consisted of 19 biopsy-proven MCD children aged 2-15 years old. Both plasma and urinary TNF-alpha were measured. Employing the Millicell system, TNF-alpha was screened for the permeability factors. We examined whether TNF-alpha regulated BM HSPG gene expression and HS synthesis in the glomerular epithelial cells (GECs).
RESULTS
Urinary TNF-alpha during relapse was significantly increased when compared with that of during remission or controls (364.4+/-51.2 vs 155.3+/-20.8, 36.0+/-4.5 ng/mg cr) (P< 0.05). However, negative results were obtained in the permeability assay using the Millicell system. No difference was seen in the BM HSPG gene expression and HS synthesis in the GECs.
CONCLUSION
It seems that TNF-alpha may not play a disease-specific role in the pathogenesis of MCD.

Keyword

Glomerular epithelial cells; TNF-alpha; Minimal change nephrotic syndrome

MeSH Terms

Child
Epithelial Cells*
Gene Expression
Glomerular Basement Membrane
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans
Humans
Nephrosis, Lipoid
Nephrotic Syndrome
Permeability*
Plasma
Recurrence
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha*
Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha