Abstract:

Objective: To realize the distribution of C3aR highly expressing cells we found previously in the renal tissue of both normal people and patients with various kidney disease, identify the cells and evaluate the feasibility of using C3aR as a marker in detecting renal mast cells. Methodology: Renal sections of biopsies from both normal donor and patients with kidney disease, including diabetic nephropathy, IgAN, acute interstitial nephritis, chronic interstitial nephritis, ANCA associated vasculitis, minimal change, membranous nephropathy, FSGS and lupus nephritis were analyzed by histological, immunohistochemical, double immunoflurorescence, immunoelectronicmicroscopic methods and toluidine blue staining. The number of C3aR highly positive cells in each section was counted, the density of the cell was calculated, and the comparison between C3aR and tryptase as a marker of renal mast cells were made. Results: C3aR highly expressing cells were found in all renal sections from both normal donor and patients with various kidney diseases, though the number of the cell is different in different sections. The C3aR highly expressing cells, which had a morphous of mast cells, were positive in CD68 and tryptase immunohistochemical staining and toluidine blue staining while negative in CD45 staining, and thus were proved to be mast cells. Comparison between C3aR and tryptase as a marker of renal mast cells revealed that C3aR is better than tryptase as a marker in detection of mast cells in renal tissue. Conclusion: C3aR is specifically highly expressed in renal mast cells and can be used as a good marker in detection of renal mast cells immunohistochemically.