Elevated levels of beta defensin-1 mRNA in diabetic kidneys of GK rats

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2003 Oct 17;310(2):513-21. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.09.034.

Abstract

We previously described the isolation of CDK4, representing the 3(')end of an unknown mRNA, using differential display [Biophys. Res. Commun. 232 (1997) 49]. To determine the identity of the CDK4 gene, full-length CDK4 cDNA clones were isolated from a diabetic kidney cDNA library. DNA sequencing revealed that CDK4 represents the rat beta defensin-1 gene (rBD-1). rBD-1 mRNA was detected in rat kidney, heart, lung, and skeletal muscle using RT-PCR. Using Northern blot analysis, elevated levels of the 0.5kb mRNA transcript were detected in the kidneys of 6-, 16-, 26-, and 40-week-old GK rats when compared with age-matched Wistar controls. A novel 2.0kb mRNA transcript was also detected in all kidneys examined from GK rats in none of the age-matched control kidneys. Biglycan and TGF-beta1 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated in kidneys of GK rats at 26 weeks compared to 16 and 6 weeks, showing that the kidneys of GK rats mimic the gene expression pattern described for human and experimental DN. These data suggest that overexpression of beta-defensin-1 mRNA may play a role in diabetic nephropathy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Biglycan
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / genetics
  • Decorin
  • Defensins / biosynthesis
  • Defensins / genetics*
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / genetics
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Kidney / chemistry
  • Kidney / metabolism
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteoglycans / genetics
  • Proteoglycans / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Mutant Strains
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • beta-Defensins / biosynthesis
  • beta-Defensins / genetics*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • BGN protein, human
  • Bgn protein, rat
  • Biglycan
  • DCN protein, human
  • DEFB1 protein, human
  • Dcn protein, rat
  • Decorin
  • Defb1 protein, rat
  • Defensins
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Proteoglycans
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • TGFB1 protein, human
  • Tgfb1 protein, rat
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • beta-Defensins
  • Cdk4 protein, rat
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinases

Associated data

  • GENBANK/AF093536