[Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor in renal biopsy from patients with adolescent nephronophthisis].

INTRODUCTION

In Venezuela has been described a new form of nephronophthisis, called adolescent nephronophthisis, with clinical and histological findings very similar to others varieties described. However, pathogenesis in not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in tubular epithelial cells of patients with adolescent nephronophthisis.

METHODS

Renal biopsies of 8 patients with adolescent nephronophthisis were studied by immunohistochemistry to determine renal expression of EGFR.

RESULTS

In all patients, there was no expression of epidermal growth factor receptor.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate a deficiency of growth factor receptor in undifferentiated epithelial cells, which could be one factor in the development of cysts in nephronophthisis.