Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in renal tissue is associated with monocyte recruitment and tubulo-interstitial lesions in patients with lupus nephritis

C DAI, Z LIU, H ZHOU, L LI - Chinese medical journal, 2001 - mednexus.org
C DAI, Z LIU, H ZHOU, L LI
Chinese medical journal, 2001mednexus.org
Objective To investigate the pattern of monocyte chemoattractant prolein-1 (MCP-1)
distribution in the renal interstitium and evaluate its pathogenic role in tubulo-interstitial
lesions in patients with lupus nephritis, the distribution of MCP-1 in renal tissue was
observed. Methods Eighteen female patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were
enrolled in this study. No intensive immunosuppresive therapy was used in these patients
during the 3 months prior to renal biopsy. The distribution of MCP-1, infiltration of CD68+ …
Objective
To investigate the pattern of monocyte chemoattractant prolein-1 (MCP-1) distribution in the renal interstitium and evaluate its pathogenic role in tubulo-interstitial lesions in patients with lupus nephritis, the distribution of MCP-1 in renal tissue was observed.
Methods
Eighteen female patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis were enrolled in this study. No intensive immunosuppresive therapy was used in these patients during the 3 months prior to renal biopsy. The distribution of MCP-1, infiltration of CD68+ (macrophage/monocyte), CD4+ and CD8+ cells in the tubulo-interstitium of patients with lupus nephritis was detected using immunohistochemical staining with specific antibodies. Renal specimens from patients with minimal change glomerulonephritis were used as controls.
Results
MCP-1 protein was widely distributed in the renal tissue of patients with lupus nephritis, mainly located at the baso-lateral surface of tubular epithelial cells (16/18 biopsies), and on the wall of interstitial blood vessels (9/18 biopsies). In contrast, tubular MCP-1 staining was weak and rare in renal tissue from controls (7.4±6.2% vs 26.7 ± 22.8%, P< 0.01). Tubulo-interstitial infiltration of CD68+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells was markedly increased in patients with lupus nephritis as compared to controls. The tubular expression of MCP-1 was strongly associated with the amount of CD68+ cell infiltration in the interstitium (r = 0.5420, P < 0.05) and the extent of interstitial fibrosis. There was no correlation between MCP-1 production in tubules and the degree of urinary protein excretion in patients with lupus nephritis (r = 0.0547, P>0.05).
Conclusions
The expression of MCP-1 in the renal tubules and vascular wall was markedly increased in patients with lupus nephritis. The overproduction of MCP-1 in renal tissue may contribute to monocyte recruitment in the interstitium and thus result in tubulo-interstitial damage in lupus nephritis. Chin Med J 2001; 114(8):864-868
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