Sr. Orth et al., Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is expressed in the human kidney and is a growth factor for human mesangial cells, NEPH DIAL T, 15(5), 2000, pp. 589-595
Background. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a recently
cloned member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily
, is a potent neurotrophic factor in vitro and in vivo. GDNF is essential f
or nephrogenesis and the highest expression of GDNF is found in the develop
ing kidney. Increased plasma GDNF levels have recently been documented in p
atients with chronic renal failure; the source and role of this increase, h
owever, remain unclear. No data are available about the expression of GDNF
in human adult kidney or human adult mesangial cell (HMC) cultures. We hypo
thesized that GDNF, similar to other members of the TGF-beta superfamily, m
ight play a role as a growth factor in the pathogenesis of glomeruloscleros
is.
Methods. To address this hypothesis, we first investigated (by RT-PCR) the
expression of GDNF mRNA and the mRNAs of the GDNF receptors Ret and GFR alp
ha-1 in (i) adult human renal cortex and medulla and (ii) in HMC in culture
. The results were compared to the expression of these molecules in differe
nt developmental stages of the rat kidney. We found that both GDNF and its
receptors were expressed in human adult kidney and HMC. Since this finding
implicates a role for GDNF beyond nephrogenesis, i.e. in renal physiology/p
athophysiology, we investigated the effect of GDNF on HMC growth, i.e. (i)
cellular protein synthesis as an index of hypertrophy ([H-3]methionine inco
rporation), (ii) DNA synthesis ([H-3]thymidine incorporation) and cell prol
iferation (cell numbers) as indices of hyperplasia, and (iii) extracellular
matrix synthesis, i.e. collagenous and non-collagenous extracellular prote
ins ([H-3]proline incorporation into the collagenase-sensitive and -insensi
tive fraction). HMC cultures were used as a surrogate model for the develop
ment of glomerulosclerosis.
Results. GDNF induced a biphasic growth stimulatory effect in HMC with stim
ulation at the lowest concentration used (2 ng/ml) but had no effect at hig
her concentrations (20 and 50 ng/ml). In contrast, cellular protein synthes
is and extracellular matrix synthesis were significantly and dose-dependent
ly increased by GDNF.
Conclusions. These results suggest that GDNF, similar to other members of t
he TGF-beta superfamily, might play a role as a growth factor for mesangial
cells and might thus be a player in the pathogenesis of glomerulosclerosis
.