MONOCYTE CHEMOATTRACTANT PROTEIN-1 IN NORMAL AND DISEASED HUMAN KIDNEYS - AN IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS

We conducted an immunohistochemical analysis to investigate the presen ce of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in normal and disease d human kidneys and the correlation with infiltration of macrophages. A total of 50 renal biopsies were classified according to pathologic d iagnosis. The distribution as well as the intensity of MCP-1 staining, and infiltration by CD68(+) macrophages were evaluated in diseased ve rsus normal kidneys. Weak staining of MCP-1 was detected in normal ren al tissue, especially in tubular epithelial cells. Significant alterat ions in MCP-1 staining were observed in a number of diseases, in which the intensity of MCP-1 staining rather than the distribution of MCP-l -positive cells was higher. In membranous nephropathy, IgA nephropathy , and glomerulosclerosis, an association was found between the intensi ty of MCP-1 staining in tubular epithelial cells and interstitial infi ltration of macrophages. The glomeruli in membranous nephropathy showe d a stronger intensity of MCP-1 staining particulary in the glomerular visceral epithelial cells. The glomerular MCP-1 staining did not corr elate significantly with the number of macrophages in the glomeruli. I n conclusion, we describe increased cellular staining for MCP-I in dis eased human renal tissue, especially by tubular epithelial cells, Our observations suggest, complementary to ia vitro and in vivo observatio ns made by us and others, that specific roles may be played by MCP-I i n physiological and inflammatory processes in the kidney.