Glomerular crescents predominantly express cadherin-catenin complex in pauci-immune-type crescentic glomerulonephritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression of the cadherin complex in human crescentic glomerulonephritis to elucidate the role of intercellular adherens junction molecules in crescent formation.


RESULTS
Immunostaining revealed cadherin complexes localized in Bowman's epithelial cells, but not in podocytes, of normal human glomeruli. Eight adult cases with myeloperoxidase anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (MPO-ANCA)-related (pauci-immune type) crescentic glomerulonephritis were examined on immunofluorescence microscopy with anti-pan cadherin, p120 catenin, and beta-catenin antibodies. The specimens provided six cellular crescents, 12 fibrocellular crescents, and four fibrotic crescents. Immunofluorescence was semiquantitatively estimated by the rate of the field of localization within the whole area of the crescent, according to the four-grade system [(-) - (++)]. All the tested molecules consisting of the cadherin complex were abundantly observed in cytokeratin-positive epithelial components in crescents, each with an equivalent area of localization. The expression of the cadherin complex was closely associated with that of cytokeratin and both diminished as the crescents developed from cellular to fibrotic.


CONCLUSIONS
The cadherin-catenin complex is a specific marker of Bowman's epithelial cells in human glomeruli. The cellular crescents in pauci-immune-type crescentic glomerulonephritis possess adherens junction molecules, indicating a principle parietal epithelial cell phenotype.
Usui
J
J
Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Kanemoto
K
K
Tomari
S
S
Shu
Y
Y
Yoh
K
K
Mase
K
K
Hirayama
A
A
Hirayama
K
K
Yamagata
K
K
Nagase
S
S
Kobayashi
M
M
Nitta
K
K
Horita
S
S
Koyama
A
A
Nagata
M
M
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000095002:Delta Catenin
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015415:Biomarkers; D051177:Catenins; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D009195:Peroxidase; D000095002:Delta Catenin; C000722347:CTNND1 protein, human