The significance of in vitro activation of guinea pig complement in glomeruli of human renal biopsy materials from varied subtypes of glomerulonephritis.
To measure the potential ability of complement activation by glomerular-bound immune complex or C3 convertase, the in vitro fixation of guinea pig complement (GPC) components to glomeruli was examined by immunofluorescence on the frozen sections of human renal biopsy materials, from the varied subtypes of glomerulonephritis (GN). Study for the pathway of complement activation in each subtype was also done. The extent of GPC activation fairly well paralleled with those of the autologous immunoreactants depositions and further with the morphological alterations of glomeruli in the cases of proliferative GN, advanced membranoproliferative GN (MPGN), lupus nephritis, purpura nephritis of non-IgA nephritis type and advanced focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. The ability of GPC activation was present but generally weak in the cases of post-streptococcal acute GN (post-str. AGN) and subsiding MPGN. The rate of positivity was further reduced in the cases of membranous nephropathy (MN), IgA nephritis and related purpura nephritis. The dominant alternative pathway of GPC activation was found in MPGN, post-str. AGN, IgA nephritis, and related purpura nephritis, the only classical pathway was noted in MN.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003167:Complement Activation; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged