Experimental study on detached renal tubular epithelial cells in urine of nephropathia epidemic patients.

To elucidate the pathogenesis of acute renal failure (ARF) with nephropathia epidemic (NE), provide experimental evidence for the new therapy to NE and observe the effects of Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) peptides on adhesion of renal tubular epithelial cell (RTEC), urine specimens of patients were collected under sterile conditions. Detached RTECs were separated, cultured and identified. Hantan Virus antigen was determined by using indirect immunofluorescence method and effects of RGD on adhesion of RTECs was observed by subgroup counting as well as by flow cytometry. This study showed that: (1) sublethal RTECs existed in the urine of NE-ARF patients, which could be cultured in monolayer form; (2) there was NE antigen in RTECs; and (3) adhesion of RTECs could be inhibited by RGD.