In situ localization of type III and type IV collagen‐expressing cells in human diabetic nephropathy

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Abstract
Nodular intercapillary glomerulosclerosis is the most typical lesion of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and is characterized by increased extracellular matrix (ECM) and amorphous masses of mesangial matrix. The local exaggeration of these deposits results in the formation in the typical diabetic nodule. To clarify the composition of the ECM of sclerotic lesions in DN, we investigated the distribution of type III and type IV collagens and their mRNAs by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, respectively. In normal renal tissues, there was no intraglomerular immunostaining for type III collagen, while strongly positive staining was found in the extraglomerular interstitum. Positive immunostaining for type IV collagen was also present in the mesangium, glomerular basement membrane (GBM), Bowman's capsule, and the vascular pole of the normal glomerulus. In DN, the nodular lesions were negative for type III collagen and strongly positive for type IV collagen. On the other hand, in the late stage of global sclerosis, both type III and type IV collagens were diffusely present in the sclerotic matrix. To determine the origins of these type III and type IV collagens in the sclerotic matrix, in situ hybridization was performed, utilizing thymine-thymine (T-T) dimerized synthetic oligonucleotides complementary to either proα(III) chain or pro α1 (IV) chain mRNAs as probes. The signals were detected by enzyme immunohistochemistry using an anti-T-T antibody. Intraglomerular cells (glomerular epithelial and mesangil cells) containing type III collagen mRNA were found in DN with sclerotic lesions, but not in normal glomeruli. At this stage of sclerosis, intraglomerular cells (mainly glomerular epithelial cells and infrequently mesangial cells) were positive for type IV collagen mRNA, but there were few positive cells in globally sclerotic glomeruli. This study provides evidence that both type III and type IV collagens are synthesized by intraglomerular cells during sclerosis and become significant constituents of the sclerotic matrix in DN.