Low-Vacuum Scanning Electron Microscopy to Assess Histopathological Resolution of Class V Lupus Nephritis: A Case Report.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is most frequently associated with poor outcomes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN manifests as histopathological changes in the kidney caused by immune complex formation and deposition. In particular, immunoglobulin G (IgG) deposits are frequently observed by immunofluorescence staining, which helps to establish the diagnosis of LN.

A case report of adult-onset COQ8B nephropathy presenting focal segmental glomerulosclerosis with granular swollen podocytes.

Background: Primary coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) deficiency of genetic origin is one of a few treatable focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Renal morphologic evidence for COQ8B mutation and CoQ10 deficiencies of other gene mutations is assessed using electron microscopy with marked increase of abnormal-shaped mitochondria in podocytes. However, light microscopic morphologic features of deficiencies other than FSGS have not been reported.

Glomerular endothelial cell injury and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis lesion in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) lesions have often been discussed as a negative predictor in idopathic membranous nephropathy (MN). The mechanism of the development of FSGS lesion in MN is still uncertain.

Methods: From 250 cases of MN, 26 cases contained FSGS lesion.

Acute graft-versus-host disease of the kidney in allogeneic rat bone marrow transplantation.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell or bone marrow transplantation (BMT) causes graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). However, the involvement of the kidney in acute GVHD is not well-understood. Acute GVHD was induced in Lewis rats (RT1l) by transplantation of Dark Agouti (DA) rat (RT1(a)) bone marrow cells (6.

Glomerular basement membrane injuries in IgA nephropathy evaluated by double immunostaining for α5(IV) and α2(IV) chains of type IV collagen and low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy.

Background: The glomerulus contains well-developed capillaries, which are at risk of injury due to high hydrostatic pressure, hyperfiltration, hypertension and inflammation. However, the pathological alterations of the injured glomerular basement membrane (GBM), the main component of the glomerular filtration barrier, are still uncertain in cases of glomerulonephritis.

Methods: We examined the alterations of the GBM in 50 renal biopsy cases with IgA nephropathy (31.

An ophthalmic solution of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist prevents corneal inflammation in a rat alkali burn model.

Purpose: We clarified the effects of an ophthalmic solution of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist on corneal inflammation and wound healing after alkali burn injury in rats.

Methods: After alkali exposure, either an ophthalmic solution with 0.1% pioglitazone hydrochloride (the PPARγ group) or vehicle (the vehicle group) was topically applied to the cornea until day 14.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG2κ deposit successfully treated with steroids: a case report and review of the literature.

A novel form of glomerular injury with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) IgG deposition, termed "proliferative glomerulonephritis (GN) with monoclonal IgG deposits" (PGNMID), is a recently described entity. PGNMID presents with various histological patterns, such as membranoproliferative GN, endocapillary proliferative GN and membranous nephropathy (MN). The deposits are composed of monoclonal immunoglobulin, most commonly IgG3 and occasionally IgG2.

A case of secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis associated with malignant hypertension.

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is associated with various clinicopathological conditions, including hypertension. We report here a case of secondary FSGS associated with malignant hypertension. A 33-year-old man with a 1-month history of visual impairment and headache visited the Department of Ophthalmology at our hospital and was found to have hypertensive retinopathy and severe hypertension (230/160 mmHg).

Role of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in recovery after tubular damage in acute kidney injury in mice.

Background/aims: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc endopeptidases that degrade extracellular matrix and are involved in the pathogenesis of ischemic damage in acute kidney injury (AKI). In the present study, we analyzed the role of MMP-2 in the repair process in ischemic AKI.

Methods: AKI was induced in MMP-2 wild-type (MMP-2(+/+)) and MMP-2-deficient (MMP-2(-/-)) mice by 90-min renal artery clamping followed by reperfusion.

Renal inflammatory changes in acute hepatic failure-associated acute kidney injury.

Background/aims: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in advanced liver dysfunction. Our aim is to clarify the mechanisms of acute hepatic failure (AHF)-associated AKI.

Methods: We examined the mechanisms of AHF-associated AKI, which is characterized by AKI in AHF and hyperbilirubinemia, following DA-to-Lewis rat liver transplantation.

Surgical technique of orthotopic liver transplantation in rats: the Kamada technique and a new splint technique for hepatic artery reconstruction.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in rats is technically feasible and useful for the assessment of clinical liver transplantation and analysis of inflammatory liver diseases. OLT in rats was pioneered by Lee et al. in 1973 using hand-suture techniques of all vessels.

A case of (double) ANCA-negative granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's).

A 60-year-old man had experienced cough, bloody sputum, and a 38 °C fever for 1.5 months. He visited an outpatient clinic and received antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin G3κ deposits in association with parvovirus B19 infection.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin G deposits is a recently described disease entity, characterized by nonorganized electron-dense deposits in glomeruli and immunofluorescence findings indicating monoclonal immunoglobulin G deposits. The pathogenesis of many cases of proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin G deposits remains unknown. We herein report 2 patients with parvovirus B19 infection who developed acute nephritic syndrome with hypocomplementemia (patient 1) or persistent proteinuria and congestive heart failure (patient 2); however, neither patient had detectable levels of serum monoclonal immunoglobulin G.

Caspase-3-independent internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in ischemic acute kidney injury.

Background/aims: Renal tubular cell death in ischemia-reperfusion does not follow the classical apoptosis or necrosis phenotype. We characterized the morphological and biochemical features of injured tubular epithelial cells in ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI).

Methods: Ischemic AKI was induced in rats by 60 min of ischemia followed by 24 h of reperfusion.

Involvement of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the development of renal interstitial fibrosis in mouse obstructive nephropathy.

Renal fibrosis is a common finding in progressive renal diseases. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). We investigated the role of MMP-2 and the effect of inhibition of MMPs on the development of renal fibrosis.

Development of lymphatic vasculature and morphological characterization in rat kidney.

Background: The mechanisms and morphological characteristics of lymphatic vascular development in embryonic kidneys remain uncertain.

Methods: We examined the distribution and characteristics of lymphatic vessels in developing rat kidneys using immunostaining for podoplanin, prox-1, Ki-67, type IV collagen (basement membrane: BM), and α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA: pericytes or mural cells). We also examined the expression of VEGF-C.

A case of monoclonal immunoglobulin G1-lambda deposition associated with membranous feature in a patient with hepatitis C viral infection.

A 63-year-old man with hepatitis C virus infection was admitted to our hospital for nephrotic syndrome. Light microscopic analysis of a percutaneous renal biopsy showed thickening of the glomerular capillary walls and spike formation. Immunofluorescence revealed granular deposition of monoclonal immunoglobulin G1-lambda and C3 complement along the glomerular basement membrane.

Renal thrombotic microangiopathy associated with chronic humoral graft versus host disease after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a known complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The pathogenesis of TMA is controversial but considered to involve various factors such as total body irradiation, use of calcineurin inhibitors for prophylaxis against graft versus host disease (GVHD), viral infection, and GVHD. Herein we describe a case with renal TMA after HSCT, which was probably associated with antibody-mediated endothelial cell injury from chronic GVHD (termed here 'chronic humoral GVHD').

Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases reduces ischemia-reperfusion acute kidney injury.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that degrade extracellular matrix and involved in ischemic organ injuries. The present study was designed to determine the role of MMP-2 in the development of ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI was induced in MMP-2 wild-type (MMP-2(+/+)) mice by 30, 60, 90, and 120 min renal ischemia and reperfusion.

Statin attenuates experimental anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis together with the augmentation of alternatively activated macrophages.

Macrophages are heterogeneous and include classically activated M1 and alternatively activated M2 macrophages, characterized by pro- and anti-inflammatory functions, respectively. Macrophages that express heme oxygenase-1 also exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. We assessed the anti-inflammatory effects of statin in experimental anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis and in vitro, focusing on the macrophage heterogeneity.

Inhibition of capillary repair in proliferative glomerulonephritis results in persistent glomerular inflammation with glomerular sclerosis.

The pathological process of glomerulonephritis (GN) includes glomerular capillary damage, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has an important role in glomerular capillary repair in GN. We examined the effect of inhibition of glomerular capillary repair after capillary injury in GN. Experimental Thy-1 GN was induced in rats that were divided into two groups: rats that received anti-VEGF neutralizing antibody (50 μg per 100 g body weight per day) and those treated with the vehicle from day 2 to day 9.

ANG II receptor blockade enhances anti-inflammatory macrophages in anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis.

Macrophages are heterogeneous immune cell populations that include classically activated and alternatively activated (M2) macrophages. We examined the anti-inflammatory effect of ANG II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R) blocker (ARB) on glomerular inflammation in a rat model of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) glomerulonephritis (GN). The study focused on infiltrating CD8(+) and CD4(+) cells and macrophages, as well as the heterogeneity of intraglomerular macrophages.

Current status and issues of C1q nephropathy.

C1q nephropathy, first proposed by Jennette and Hipp [Am J Clin Pathol 83:415-420, 1985; Am J Kidney Dis 6:103-110, 1985], was described as a distinct glomerular disease entity characterized by extensive mesangial deposition of C1q, with associated mesangial immune complexes, and the absence of any clinical and laboratory evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. Now, 20 years since the first report, the disease entity is gradually attaining recognition, particularly in the field of pediatrics. C1q is the subcomponent of C1 in the classical pathway of complement activation.

Ultrastructural and immunohistochemical analysis of fibrous long-spacing collagen fibrils in malignant mesothelioma.

Three cases of biphasic mesothelioma and 2 cases of sarcomatoid mesothelioma were investigated using light and electron microscopy. In 2 of the 3 cases of biphasic mesotheliomas, fibrous long-spacing (FLS) collagen fibrils were discovered with a symmetrical cross-striation of 130 nm in periodicity. However, no connection between the FLS fibrils and usual collagen fibrils were observed.