Malgorzata Wagrowska-Danilewicz, Marian Danilewicz

Pattern of Renal β1(α1 - α6) Integrins Distribution in IgA Nephropathy and Henoch-Schoenlein Nephritis

Department of Pathomorphology, Nephropathology Division, Medical University, Lodz

Abstract

Immunoperoxidase staining was carried out using monoclonal antibodies against integrins α1β1, α2β1, α3β1, α4β1, α5β1 and α6β1 on renal biopsy specimens from patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN, n=15) and Henoch-Schoenlein nephritis (HSN, n=10). The basic pattern of glomerular and tubulointerstitial (α1 - α6)β1 integrin distribution was similar in both studied groups, however increase in mesangial α1β1 integrin immunoexpression in biopsies from HSN patients as compared to biopsies from IgAN patients was observed. There were no statistical differences in the intensity of tubulointerstitial (α1 - α6)β1 integrins immunolabelling in renal tissue between IgAN and HSN patients. The similar pattern of distribution of β1 integrins in renal tissue in IgAN and HSN patients may support the hypothesis of common pathogenesis of IgAN and HSN. Upregulation of α1β1 integrin on mesangial regions in biopsy specimens in patients with HSN may be connected to the much more florid glomerular changes in renal tissue in this type of glomerulonephritis than in IgAN.