PDGF-C Expression in the Developing and Normal Adult Human Kidney and in Glomerular Diseases

PDGF-C is a new member of the PDGF-family and has recently been identified as a rat mesangial cell mitogen. Its expression and function in human kidneys is unknown. Localization of PDGF-C protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry using a rabbit polyclonal antibody directed against the core-domain of PDGF-C in human fetal kidneys (n = 8), normal adult human kidneys (n = 9), and in renal biopsies of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN, n = 31), membranous nephropathy (MGN, n = 8), minimal change disease (MC, n = 7), and transplant glomerulopathy (TxG, n = 12). Additionally, PDGF-C mRNA was detected in microdissected glomeruli by real-time RT-PCR in cases of normal adult kidneys (n = 7), IgAN (n = 27), MGN (n = 11), and MC (n = 13). In the fetal kidney, PDGF-C localized to the developing mesangium, ureteric bud epithelium, and the undifferentiated mesenchyme. In the adult kidney, PDGF-C was constitutively expressed in parietal epithelial cells of Bowman's capsule, tubular epithelial cells (loops of Henle, distal tubules, collecting ducts), and in arterial endothelial cells. A marked upregulation of glomerular PDGF-C protein was seen in MGN and TxG with a prominent positivity of virtually all podocytes. In MC, PDGF-C localized to podocytes in a more focal distribution. In MGN, increased glomerular PDGF-C protein expression was due to increased mRNA synthesis as a 4.3-fold increase in PDGF-C mRNA was detected in microdissected glomeruli from MGN compared with normal. PDGF-C protein was additionally expressed in individual mesangial cells in TxG. Finally, upregulated PDGF-C protein expression was detected within sclerosing glomerular and fibrosing tubulointerstitial lesions in individual cases from all analyzed groups. We conclude that PDGF-C is constitutively expressed in the human kidney and is upregulated in podocytes and interstitial cells after injury/activation of these cells.