Histological evidence of neuraminidase involvement in acute nephritis: desialized leukocytes infiltrate the kidney in acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Abstract

Serum neuraminidase (NA, sialidase) activity has been demonstrated in acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN) and implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease. Recent investigations show that neuraminidase-treated leukocytes accumulate preferentially in kidneys; therefore, we were interested in knowing if desialized cells infiltrate the kidney in APSGN. We first tested the capacity of peanut agglutinin lectin (PNA) to detect injected NA-treated leukocytes in the kidney of rats. NA-treated leukocytes were transfused and desialized cells were identified with fluorescein-conjugated peanut lectin (FITC-PNA) in renal tissue. PNA positive cells were identified in rat kidneys 3 hours after injection (glomeruli: 1.67 +/- 0.19 cells/g.c.s.; interstitium: 0.50 +/- 0.12 cells/int). Sections from available renal biopsy material of APSGN (n = 11), other glomerulonephritis (n = 28) and normal kidneys (n = 5) were double-stained with FITC-PNA and with monoclonal antibody to the CD11b molecule, which is expressed on polymorphonuclear and monocytes the main types of infiltrating cells during APSGN. Desialized (FITC-PNA positive) cells were found in the glomeruli (2.17 +/- SEM 0.22 cells per glomerular cross section, g.c.s.) and interstitium (0.61 +/- 0.15 cells per 0.0625 mm2, int) in all biopsies of APSGN. Only in 2 of 28 other glomerulonephritis showed desialized cells. More than 80% of the PNA positive cells in APSGN expressed the CD11b molecule and the infiltration was more intense in early biopsies. In conclusion, desialized leukocytes represent a significant part of the inflammatory infiltrate in APSGN. This finding gives support for a role of NA in the disease and provides clinical validation for a mechanism of renal cellular infiltration suggested by experimental observations.

• Authors: C Marín, J Mosquera, B Rodríguez-Iturbe
• Journal: Clinical nephrology (Clin Nephrol) Vol. 47 Issue 4 Pg. 217-21 (Apr 1997) ISSN: 0301-0430 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 9128787 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Neuraminidase

Topics

• Animals
• Biopsy
• Glomerulonephritis (metabolism, pathology)
• Histocytochemistry
• Humans
• Kidney Glomerulus (physiology)
• Leukocytes (drug effects, metabolism, physiology)
• Male
• Neuraminidase (pharmacology, physiology)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Lew
• Retrospective Studies
• Streptococcal Infections (complications)
• Time Factors