ROLE OF TENASCIN IN HUMAN-IMMUNOGLOBULIN A NEPHROPATHY

Tenascin is a component of the extracellular matrix that responds rapi dly to inflammation or injury. The activity index and chronicity index of immunoglobulin A nephropathy are mainly used to decide whether or not steroid therapy is indicated, but are sometimes difficult to evalu ate histologically. We investigated whether tenascin staining of the g lomeruli was an indicator of the activity or chronicity indices in pat ients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Tenascin staining was evaluat ed immunohistochemically in 38 renal specimens, including 32 from pati ents with immunoglobulin A nephropathy and six from control kidneys, a nd the extent of staining was scored. Tenascin staining was correlated with the chronicity index (r = 0.643, P < 0.0003) but not with the ac tivity index.