Renal fibrosis mRNA classifier: validation in experimental lithium-induced interstitial fibrosis in the rat kidney

Metzincins and related genes (MARGS) play important roles in ECM remodeling in fibrotic conditions. In this investigation, gene expression was examined in a rat model to investigate whether the previously described MARGS based fibrosis classifier had diagnostic value in an experimental rat model of lithium-induced renal fibrosis Male Wistar rats (n=12) were divided into 2 groups (n=6) One group was given a diet containing lithium (40 mmol/kg food for 7 days, followed by 60mmol/kg food for the rest of the experimental period, while a control group (n=6) was fed a normal diet. After six months, animals were sacrificed and the renal cortex and medulla of both kidneys removed for analysis. For microarray investigation, 24 GeneChip® Affymetrix Rat Exon 1.0 ST arrays were used. Statistically relevant genes (p-value<0.05, fold change>1.5, t-test) were further examined.