Mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor on canine and equine mesangial cells in vitro.

This study is investigating the impact of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) on the proliferation of mesangial cells (MC) in dogs and horses, which gives insight into the progression of kidney diseases in these animals.

Methodology

• To assess the influence of EGF and PDGF, mesangial cells from dogs and horses were used. The cells used were between the third and eighth passage, which were gathered from the glomeruli (part of the kidney’s filtration system) of healthy animals using an explant outgrowth after differential sieving process.
• The researchers studied the impact of serum, insulin, EGF and PDGF on the cells. They did this by observing these substances’ ability to stimulate DNA synthesis in the mesangial cells. This was measured by the stimulation of [3H]thymidine incorporation and an observe in the cell numbers.

Results

• The results found that EGF had a robust influence on both canine and equine MC, causing a moderate yet dose-dependent rise in the cell numbers and [3H]thymidine incorporation.
• PDGF, when administered solo did not significantly stimulate the incorporation of [3H]thymidine in dog MC. However, when combined with EGF, PDGF synergistically stimulated the incorporation. In horse mesangial cells, PDGF did demonstrate a significant stimulation.

Conclusions

• The findings of this study intricately point at the importance of both EGF and PDGF in the proliferation of mesangial cells in dogs and horses.
• The study supports the theory that growth factors (such as EGF and PDGF) play a critical role in the progression of glomerular disease (a type of kidney disease) in these species.
• This information has important implications, as it could prove useful in diagnosing, prognosis, and devising therapeutic strategies for managing spontaneous renal diseases in dogs and horses.