Expression of transgelin in human glomerulonephritis of various etiology.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

Activation of myofibroblasts occurs during kidney injury. Genomic and proteomic studies suggest that transgelin represents a protein that may be involved in renal injury. The purpose of this study was to estimate transgelin expression in the renal tissue of patients with glomerulonephritis.

METHODS:

Transgelin was identified in biopsy sections of 67 patients by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Its distribution was compared to that of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker of myofibroblast activation in the kidney.

RESULTS:

Transgelin and α-SMA expression was identified within glomeruli and interstitium. In patients with IgA nephropathy and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, glomerular expression of transgelin was higher than that of α-SMA. The extent of transgelin immunostaining was related to mesangial proliferation (p = 0.034), glomerular sclerosis (p = 0.035), interstitial fibrosis (p = 0.047) and to the clinical course (p = 0.009). Colocalization studies showed that in some areas of kidney tissue both proteins were expressed with comparable intensity, whereas in other areas expression of either transgelin or α-SMA was predominant.

CONCLUSION:

Strong transgelin expression was observed in renal tissue of patients with glomerulonephritis. The observed differences in the pattern of transgelin and α-SMA expression suggest that either different subpopulations of myofibroblasts exist, or that these proteins are activated at different stages of renal injury/scarring.

• Authors: M Gerolymos, F Karagianni, M Papasotiriou, P Kalliakmani, F Sotsiou, A Charonis, D S Goumenos
• Journal: Nephron. Clinical practice (Nephron Clin Pract) Vol. 119 Issue 1 Pg. c74-82 ( 2011) ISSN: 1660-2110 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 21677441 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• ACTA2 protein, human
• Actins
• Biomarkers
• Microfilament Proteins
• Muscle Proteins
• transgelin

Topics

• Actins (genetics, metabolism)
• Adult
• Aged
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Glomerulonephritis (etiology, genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Kidney (cytology, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Microfilament Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Muscle Proteins (biosynthesis, genetics)
• Myofibroblasts (metabolism)
• Tissue Distribution (genetics)