Korean J Intern Med.  2014 Mar;29(2):176-182. 10.3904/kjim.2014.29.2.176.

Urokinase, urokinase receptor, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression on podocytes in immunoglobulin A glomerulonephritis

• Lee JH
• Oh MH
• Park JS
• Na GJ
• Gil HW
• Yang JO
• Lee EY
• Hong SY

• KMID: 1792033
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2014.29.2.176

Abstract

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.

Keyword

Glomerulonephritis, IGA; Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1; Urokinase-type plasminogen activator; Receptors, urokinase plasminogen activator

MeSH Terms

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
Biological Markers
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1
Receptors, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator
Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator