Very late activation-3 integrin is the dominant beta 1-integrin on the glomerular capillary wall: an immunofluorescence study in nephrotic syndrome.
The expression of alpha 2; alpha 3; alpha 5; alpha 6-subunits of the beta 1 [very late activation (VLA)] integrin family was studied in kidney specimens using an immunofluorescent technique. 6 specimens from normal kidney were compared with 10 specimens from patients affected by various glomerulopathies [minimal change nephropathy (MCN), membranous nephropathy (MN) and systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis (SLEN)]. On normal glomeruli, alpha 3 was the dominant integrin, being mainly present on podocytes and showing a linear fluorescent pattern codistributed with laminin. In MCN and SLEN, alpha 3 presented a normal pattern. In MN, alpha 3 revealed a trabecular picture on thickened glomerular basement membranes. Moreover, in stage-III MN, a segmental loss of alpha 3-integrin was detected. In our opinion, VLA-3 may offer an interesting approach to the study of the relationships between podocytes and their substrate.
Baraldi
A
A
Department of Nephrology, University of Modena, Italy.
Furci
L
L
Zambruno
G
G
Rubbiani
E
E
Annessi
G
G
Lusvarghi
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000378:metabolism; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016029:Receptors, Very Late Antigen