No abstract available.
Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/*enzymology ; Humans ; Male ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1/*analysis ; Podocytes/*enzymology ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator/*analysis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR), and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 on podocytes in immunoglobulin A (IgA) glomerulonephritis (GN). METHODS: Renal biopsy specimens from 52 IgA GN patients were deparaffinized and subjected to immunohistochemical staining for uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR. The biopsies were classified into three groups according to the expression of uPA and uPAR on podocytes: uPA, uPAR, and a negative group. The prevalences of the variables of the Oxford classification for IgA GN were compared among the groups. RESULTS: On podocytes, uPA was positive in 11 cases and uPAR was positive in 38 cases; by contrast, PAI-1 was negative in all cases. Expression of both uPA and uPAR on podocytes was less frequently accompanied by tubulointerstitial fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a possible protective effect of podocyte uPA/uPAR expression against interstitial fibrosis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atrophy ; Biological Markers/analysis ; Biopsy ; Female ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/diagnosis/*enzymology/immunology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1/*analysis ; Podocytes/*enzymology/immunology/pathology ; Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator/*analysis ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator/*analysis ; Young Adult