Immunohistochemical study of tenascin in mesangial proliferative (IgA-negative) glomerulonephritis

Glomerular and interstitial expression of tenascin was examined by an indirect immunoperoxidase method in renal biopsy specimens from 27 patients with mesangial proliferative (IgA-negative) glomerulonephritis (MesProGN). Histologically normal samples of kidney tissue (n = 10) obtained from patients with renal trauma were used as controls. In patients with MesProGN, expression of tenascin in glomeruli and interstitium was significantly higher as compared with controls. Tenascin was present in mesangial regions and particularly in areas with interstitial damage. Our results confirm that tenascin is present in normal renal tissue and show a strongly positive correlation between glomerular tenascin expression and surface of mesangial areas and between interstitial expression of tenascin and the relative interstitial cortical volume in patients with MesProGN. In addition, there was a significant correlation between intensity of glomerular and interstitial tenascin staining and serum creatinine levels. Our data indicate that tenascin accumulates in glomeruli and interstitium in patients with MesProGN. Therefore, immunohistochemical staining of tenascin may be a useful marker of progression of the disease in this type of glomerulonephritis.