Interstitial complement C3 activation and macrophage infiltration in patients with hypertensive nephropathy


The interplay between interstitial complement C3 activation and macrophage infiltration might play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive nephropathy (HN), but human data are limited. We sought to investigate interstitial complement C3 expression and macrophage infiltration in HN as well as the relationships between C3 activation and macrophage infiltration, their association with clinicopathologic data, and changes in renal function.

Using immunohistochemistry, we analyzed 20 renal tissue specimens from HN patients and 40 control specimens for complement C3, angiotensin (AGT), angiotensin II, and macrophage marker CD68 levels. Serum creatinine levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), annual rates of change in eGFR, and the interstitial fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, and arteriolar lesion scores were recorded.

Patients with HN showed elevated levels of interstitial C3 expression, AGT, angiotensin II, and interstitium-infiltrating macrophages compared to controls. The enhanced interstitial expression of C3 was correlated significantly with interstitial macrophage density, serum creatinine level as well as interstitial fibrosis, glomerulosclerosis, and arteriolar lesion scores, but was inversely correlated with eGFR and annual rates of change in eGFR.

In human HN, inflammation involving complement C3 activation and macrophage infiltration as well as interactions between them, may play important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of interstitial fibrosis and kidney damage.
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