J Korean Soc Transplant.  2011 Jun;25(2):71-75.

Pathogenesis of Transplant Glomerulopathy

• Lim BJ
• Jeong HJ

Abstract

Transplant glomerulopathy is a late complication of renal transplantation. The characteristic morphology of transplant glomerulopathy includes thickening of glomerular capillary loops with double contour, and duplication of glomerular basement membrane on electron microscopy. Clinical and experimental evidences support the role of antibody-mediated immune mechanism in the development of transplant glomerulopathy. Antibody-induced endothelial cell injury is the key pathogenesis of transplant glomerulopathy. The evolution of transplant glomerulopathy in the context of immunologic injury is briefly reviewed.

Keyword

Kidney glomerulus; Kidney transplantation; Graft rejection; Humoral immunity

MeSH Terms

Capillaries
Endothelial Cells
Glomerular Basement Membrane
Graft Rejection
Immunity, Humoral
Kidney Glomerulus
Kidney Transplantation
Microscopy, Electron
Transplants

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Morphologic changes of transplant glomerulopathy. Glomerular capillary loops are thickened and show double contour (A). Electron microscopy reveals the widening of lamina rara interna and newly formed lamina densa (B). The peritubular capillary basement membrane is also multilayered (C). (A; Methenamine silver stain, ×400, B; Electron microscopy, ×3,000, C; Electron microscopy, ×10,000)

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  Fig. 2. A proposed pathogenesis of transplant glomeruopathy.

Reference

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