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Updated: Aug 1, 2026
Assessment of Kidney Function in Mouse Models of Glomerular Disease
Published on: June 30, 2018
Histochemical and immunohistochemical studies of diseased human glomeruli
1Third Department of Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Lentil lectin (LCH) binds to glomerular basement membranes in kidney diseases, showing similar patterns to laminin but differing from type IV collagen. This suggests LCH primarily interacts with laminin in the glomerular extracellular matrix.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Biochemistry
- Immunohistochemistry
Background:
- Glomerulopathies involve alterations in the glomerular extracellular matrix.
- Understanding the composition of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is crucial for diagnosing and treating kidney diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the localization of Lentil lectin (LCH)-binding glycoresidues in glomeruli of patients with glomerulopathies.
- To determine the relationship between LCH-binding sugars and extracellular matrix components like laminin and type IV collagen.
Main Methods:
- Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded kidney tissues were analyzed using direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy.
- Trypsin digestion was employed to enhance lectin binding.
- Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) was used to compare LCH reactivity with different matrix proteins.
Main Results:
- Lentil lectin (LCH) showed strong reactivity with the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and mesangium, with decreased binding in sclerotic lesions.
- The GBM binding pattern of LCH mirrored that of laminin but differed from type IV collagen.
- Specific LCH and laminin localization patterns were observed in diabetic nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis.
- ELISA confirmed stronger reactivity of LCH with laminin compared to type IV collagen and fibronectin.
Conclusions:
- Lentil lectin (LCH) binding sites in the GBM are closely associated with laminin.
- LCH serves as a valuable tool for characterizing GBM changes in various glomerulopathies.
- The findings highlight the predominant interaction of LCH with laminin within the glomerular extracellular matrix.
Abstract:
In order to study the localization of Lentil lectin (LCH)-binding glycoresidues in glomeruli from patients with a variety of glomerulopathies, and to elucidate the relationship between LCH-binding sugars and the components of the extracellular matrix, laminin and type IV collagen, investigations of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded kidney tissues digested with trypsin were carried out by the direct and indirect immunofluorescence microscopy techniques. The glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and the mesangium reacted well with LCH, whereas areas with sclerotic lesions exhibited a decreased reactivity. The pattern of LCH binding to the GBM in various glomerulopathies was similar to that of laminin but different from that of type IV collagen. The pattern of localization of LCH-reacting sites and of laminin in the GBM included the double linear lines in diabetic nephropathy, inner linear line with outer projections (spikes) in membranous nephropathy, and reduplicated basement membrane in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The results obtained by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay showed that LCH had a stronger reactivity for laminin than for type IV collagen or fibronectin. These findings suggest that LCH is more reactive with laminin than with other components of the glomerular extracellular matrix.
