| First Author | Scharpfenecker M | Year | 2013 |
| Journal | Radiother Oncol | Volume | 108 |
| Issue | 3 | Pages | 464-8 |
| PubMed ID | 23849167 | Mgi Jnum | J:332262 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:6839557 | Doi | 10.1016/j.radonc.2013.06.016 |
| Citation | Scharpfenecker M, et al. (2013) Endoglin haploinsufficiency attenuates radiation-induced deterioration of kidney function in mice. Radiother Oncol 108(3):464-8 |
| abstractText | BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endoglin is a transforming growth receptor beta (TGF-beta) co-receptor, which plays a crucial role in the development of late normal tissue damage. Mice with halved endoglin levels (Eng(+/-) mice) develop less inflammation, vascular damage and fibrosis after kidney irradiation compared to their wild type littermates (Eng(+/+) mice). This study was aimed at investigating whether reduced tissue damage in Eng(+/-) mice also results in superior kidney function. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Kidneys of Eng(+/+) and Eng(+/-) mice were irradiated with a single dose of 14 Gy. Functional kidney parameters and kidney histology were analysed at 20, 30 and 40 weeks after irradiation. RESULTS: Eng(+/-) mice displayed improved kidney parameters (haematocrit, BUN) compared to Eng(+/+) mice at 40 weeks after irradiation. Irradiation of Eng(+/+) kidneys damaged the vascular network and led to an increase in PDGFR-beta positive cells, indicative of fibrosis-promoting myofibroblasts. Compared to Eng(+/+) kidneys, vascular perfusion and number of PDGFR-beta positive cells were reduced in Eng(+/-) control mice; however, this did not further deteriorate after irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, we show that not only kidney morphology, but also kidney function is improved after irradiation in Eng(+/-) compared to Eng(+/+) mice. |
