title: The endothelial cell markers von Willebrand Factor (vWF), CD31 and CD34 are lost in glomerulonephritis and no longer correlate with the morphological indices of glomerular sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, activity and chronicity.
abstract: Endothelial cells (ECs) are active participants of an inflammatory process in glomeruli. EC damage has been shown to play an important role in the progression of glomerulonephritis (GN). The degree of glomerular and peritubular capillary loss in models of progressive renal disease correlates with the severity of glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. The aim of our study was to analyze the association of vWF, CD31 and CD34 immunoreactivity with the morphological indices of glomerular sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, activity and chronicity in GN. A cross-sectional study of 22 patients with GN was conducted. Conventional stains (hematoxylin-eosin, periodic acid Schiff and Trichrome Gömöri stains) and immunohistochemistry (vWF, CD31 and CD34) were employed on kidney biopsies. Activity and chronicity of GN, as well as glomerular segmental sclerosis and interstitial fibrosis, were evaluated according to a scoring system initially used for lupus nephritis and antineutrophil-cytoplasmic-antibody-associated vasculitis. Immunohistochemistry was assessed using a semi-quantitative score. Statistical analysis was performed using EpiInfo 6.04. The mean patient age was 46.68+/-14.09; 14 patients were male, and eight were female. Performing Spearman's rank correlation test, no correlation was found between each marker and glomerular segmental sclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, activity and chronicity, which suggests a loss of these markers and microvasculature involvement.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy V. Babes Timisoara, Romania. gluhovschi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gluhovschi
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gluhovschi
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Potencz
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trandafirescu
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Petrica
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velciov
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bozdog
authors.forename: Flaviu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bob
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vernic
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cioca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012598:Sclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor