Increased expression of glomerular mesangial cell 5'-nucleotidase in membranous nephropathy.

It has been demonstrated in anti-Thy1 glomerulonephritis that extracellular adenine nucleotides have a significant pro-inflammatory activity, however, glomerular ATP/ADPase, which in concert with 5'-nucleotidase converts ATP/ADP, and AMP to anti-inflammatory adenosine had an anti-inflammatory role. We have studied distribution of 5'-nucleotidase and divalent cation-activated ATPase in kidney biopsies of 15 patients with glomerulonephritis. The major finding was an overexpression of 5'-nucleotidase in the mesangium of kidney from patients with membranous nephropathy. No change in 5'-nucleotidase expression was observed in other common forms of glomerulonephritis: IgA nephropathy, mesangioproliferative and mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis. The distribution of Mg(2+)-ATPase in investigated specimens was similar to control distribution. Results obtained in this study indicate increased mesangial expression of 5'-nucleotidase in non-proliferative form of glomerulonephritis consistent to a role of mesangial cells in inflammatory processes.