mRNA Expression of Growth Factors in Glomeruli From Diabetic Rats

Evaluations of glomerular mRNA levels encoding for PCNA, TNF-α, PDGF-A and -B chains, TGF-β, IGF-I, bFGF, and EGF were made at 4, 12, and 24 wk after injection of STZ in Sprague-Dawley rats. The mRNA levels for PCNA, TNF-α, PDGF-B chain, TGF-β, and bFGF increased with age in STZ-induced diabetic rats. At 24 wk after STZ injection, mRNA levels for PCNA, TNF-α, PDGF-B chain, TGF-β, and bFGF were increased 3.8-fold, (P < 0.01), 4.2-fold (P < 0.01), 4.0-fold (P < 0.01), 5.2-fold (P < 0.001), and 3.6-fold (P < 0.01), respectively, in the glomeruli of diabetic rats when compared with control rats. In contrast, mRNA levels for IGF-I, PDGF-A chain, and EGF were not altered in glomeruli from diabetic and control rats throughout the experimental period. Insulin treatment partially ameliorated the increase in mRNA levels for PCNA, TNF-α, PDGF-B chain, TGF-β, and bFGF in the glomeruli of diabetic rats. These data indicate that alterations in growth factor mRNA levels in glomeruli may be a manifestation of diabetic nephropathy, and that hyperglycemia or insulin deficiency may play a role in abnormal growth factor gene regulation.