Background: The aim of this study was to determine the expression pattern of Gli3 and Teashirt3 in stenotic segments in children with congenital hydronephrosis due to pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO) versus in normal control subjects.
Materials and methods: 60 patients and 10 controls were included in this study. Immunohistochemistry, Western blot and real-time PCR were used to investigate into the expression of Gli3 and Teashirt3.
Results: Immunohistochemistry identified that Gli3 and Teashirt3 located in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle in normal ureter. However, the expression of Gli3 and Teashirt3 was negative in the PUJO group. Gli3 and Teashirt3 protein and mRNA expression was significantly decreased in PUJO group compared with control group on Western blot and real time PCR.
Conclusions: The expression of protein and mRNA of Gli3 and Teashirt3 was significantly decreased in the PUJO group. Gli3 and Teashirt3 protein was mainly located in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle in normal ureter. Gli3 and Teashirt3 might play an important role in the normal development of the ureter. The down-regulated Gli3 and Teashirt3 perhaps participated in the pathogenesis of the congenital hydronephrosis due to PUJO.
Keywords: Congenital hydronephrosis; Gli3; Pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction; Teashirt3; children.