title: De novo expression of human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) and loss of beta-catenin expression in tubular epithelial cells: a possible event in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in canine renal diseases.
abstract: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) plays a central role in the progression to end-stage renal disease. Tubular epithelial cells (TECs) undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and may contribute to the progression of TIF. Using immunohistochemistry, the primary aim of this study was to assess the expression of β-catenin, human leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) and vimentin in renal biopsies from dogs with spontaneous kidney diseases of varying severities. Morphological diagnosis, severity of inflammation, TIF, HLA-DR expression and clinicopathological variables were compared in dogs with renal injury to identify any potential relationship between the different factors; β-catenin down-regulation was used as a marker of EMT. Fibrosis, HLA-DR expression, serum creatinine concentration (SCr), and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (UPC) were all increased and β-catenin expression decreased in dogs with primary glomerular disease compared with dogs with acute tubular necrosis. HLA-DR expression by TECs was positively correlated to fibrosis, inflammation, UPC, and SCr. β-catenin expression was negatively correlated to fibrosis, inflammation and HLA-DR expression. The progression of renal failure correlated closely with tubulointerstitial damage. De novo HLA-DR expression associated with β-catenin down-regulation by TECs may represent a possible step in the progression of TIF and EMT.
authors.affiliation: Department Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, AGRIPOLIS - Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Benali
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Nabity
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonsembiante
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aresu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D014746:Vimentin; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Dog; Epithelial–mesenchymal transition; Fibrosis; Glomerulonephritis; Renal biopsy