| Objectives To investigate whether there is expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in kidneys of murine chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) lupus nephritis and whether fluvastatin or irbesartan ameliorates LN by inhibiting CTGF expression and reducing proteinuria.Methods The cGVHD female mice were randomly divided into three groups: positive control group (group A), fluvastatin intervened group (group B) and irbesartan intervened group (group C). Each group has 6 mice. Six female age-matched (C57BL/6J×DBA/2) F1 mice were selected randomly to be used as normal control group. After ten weeks intervention with medicine, all the mice were killed. Part of the renal tissue were stabilized in 10% neutral formaldehyde for histopathology examination, and the rest were stored at -70℃for extracting mRNA. The protein and mRNA expression of CTGF were detected by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and RT-PCR respectively. Proteinuria was also evaluated.Results The protein and mRNA expressions of CTGF were significantly increased in kidneys of cGVHD mice respectively, which could be detected mainly in tubular cells. Fluvastatin and irbesartan treatment significantly prevented the increase in urinary protein excretion, meanwhile, fluvastatin and irbesartan suppressed the increased renal CTGF expression notably (P<0.01).Conclusions There's very little expression of CTGF in kidneys of mice in group D. In kidneys of cGVHD mice, stronger CTGF staining is found in cytoplasm of tubular epithelial cells in group A than that in group B and group C. Moreover, CTGF expression in tubular cells in cGVHD control group is correlated with proteinuria. Thus CTGF may mediate LN in cGVHD mice.CTGF plays a role in mediating LN of murine chronic graft versus host disease. Fluvastatin and irbesartan can reduce urinary protein and ameliorate LN of the cGVHD mice, partly via inhibiting CTGF expression in kidney.
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