The immunoexpression of glomerular NF-κB in proteinuric patients with proliferative and non-proliferative glomerulopathies

Recent studies suggest that NF-κB activation plays an essential role in the activation of mesangial cells and macrophages through the transcriptional induction of inflammatory mediators of glomerular inflammation and injury. The aim of the present study was to determine, using an image analysis system, glomerular immunoexpression of NF-κB (nuclear translocation of p65) in proteinuric patients with proliferative and non-proliferative glomerulopathies. Thirty-six proteinuric patients with idiopathic proliferative glomerulopathies (PG group) and 28 proteinuric participants with non-proliferative glomerulopathies (NPG group) were examined by percutaneous renal biopsy. As a control 12 biopsy specimens of the kidneys removed because of trauma were used. In the PG group the mean values of the glomerular immunoexpression of NF-κB were significantly increased as compared to both NPG patients and controls. In the PG but not in the MPG group glomerular immunoexpression of NF-κB was significantly positively correlated with the degree of proteinuria. Moreover, in the PG group glomerular immunoexpression of NF-κB was positively correlated with the mesangial cells, mesangial area and glomerular monocytes/macrophages. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest a role of NF-κB in glomerular injury in proteinuric patients with proliferative glomerulopathies.