Autosomal dominant polycystic disease is characterised by abnormal polycystin, protein, which is a component of basement membrane and extracellular matrix. Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1) is a cytokine, which takes part in development of renal tubule epithelium and stimulates the synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins. The aim of work was the assessment of TGF-beta1 concentration in children with renal polycystic disease.
Material and methods: The examined group (I) consisted of 33 children aged (median 14.7 years, range 4.0-17.9): A--11 children with solitary cyst, B--22 with polycystic renal disease. Control group (C) consisted of 20 healthy children at the same age. The concentration of urinary TGF-b1 was measured using immunoenzymatic ELISA method. The results showed that mean concentration of urinary TGF-beta 1 (121.9 +/- 168 pg/mg cr.) was lower than in group B, in which it was 207.2 +/- 361 pg/mg cr. However the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). In both subgroups (A and B) urinary excretion of TGF-beta1 was higher than in control group (C) (p<0.05). In 4 (36%) children from group A and 8 (36%) from group B the urinary concentration of TGF-beta 1 was below the sensitivity of the method. No correlation between TGF-beta 1 and children's age, urinary osmolality and GRF according to Schwartz was found. It was a positive correlation between urinary TGF-betal concentration and total diameter of renal cysts.
Conclusions: TGF-betal takes part in renal cyst formation and increased urinary excretion of TGF-b1 in proportion to the dimension of renal cysts may be an evidence of that fact.