BACKGROUND: Glomerular crescents play an important role in progressive @entity8 . The lesions consist of epithelial cells, macrophages, and deposits of fibrin and extracellular matrix. @entity4383 growth factor beta ( @entity1810 ) contributes to the modulation of cell growth and extracellular matrix synthesis. @entity7102 is involved in fibrin formation in crescents. The purpose of this study was to examine whether glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) could produce @entity1810 , and if so, to clarify the role of @entity1810 in GEC proliferation. We also investigated whether @entity7102 could modulate the production of @entity1810 and extracellular matrix by GEC. METHODS: Bioassay using the @entity1810 -dependent mink pulmonary epithelial cell line (CCL-64), immunoblot analysis, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to demonstrate @entity1810 production by @entity35 GEC. @entity1810 gene expression was examined by RT-PCR in GEC incubated with @entity7102 , and type IV collagen and fibronectin were quantified by enzyme immunoassay in culture supernatants of GEC incubated with @entity7102 or @entity1810 . RESULTS: @entity1810 activity was demonstrated in GEC supernatants by bioassay. Immunoblot analysis of concentrated culture supernatants using anti- @entity1810 antibody revealed a 12.5-kDa protein, which was compatible with @entity1810 . Concentrated GEC supernatants inhibited GEC proliferation as well as porcine @entity1810 . RT-PCR demonstrated @entity1810 gene expression in GEC. @entity7102 (0.5-5.0 U/ml) enhanced @entity1810 mRNA expression in a dose-dependent manner. @entity7102 (5.0 U/ml) and porcine @entity1810 (5.0 ng/ml) stimulated the production of type IV collagen and fibronectin by GEC. CONCLUSIONS: @entity35 GEC produce @entity1810 in vitro. @entity7102 may participate in the progression of @entity631 in crescentic @entity631 through the stimulation of @entity1810 production by GEC.

Cultured @entity35 glomerular epithelial cells show gene expression and production of transforming growth factor-beta: expression is enhanced by XXXX .

@entity8 :: ('MESH:D007674', 'Disease') :: ['glomerular injury'] @entity4383 :: ('MESH:D020518', 'Disease') :: ['Transforming'] @entity7102 :: ('29251(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['Thrombin', 'thrombin'] @entity1810 :: ('59086(Tax:10116)', 'Gene') :: ['TGF-beta'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat', 'Rat'] @entity631 :: ('MESH:D005921', 'Disease') :: ['glomerulosclerosis', 'glomerulonephritis']
@entity7102 :: (29251(Tax:10116),Gene) :: ['thrombin']
