Lectin Binding Patterns of Normal and Diseased Human Kidneys as Revealed by Histochemical Techniques

Abstract

Lectin binding patterns were examined by light microscopy in the normal human kidney tissue from 10 individuals using HRP-labeling techniques and were compared to those of the renal cancer tissues from 23 cases, infant kidney tissues from 6 cases, and tissues of glomerulonephritis from 8 cases. Specimens were obtained on operation or by autosy and/or biopsy. Lectins used were concanavalin A (ConA), Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), Peanut agglutinin (PNA), Soybean agglutinin (SBA), Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DAB), and Ulex europeaus agglutinin (UEA-1). In the normal kidney tissue, the renal corpuscle and the proximal tubule were stained with ConA, RCA, and WGA, but not with DBA, PNA, SBA or UEA-1. All the lectins used except for UEA-1 were positive in the loop of Henle, the distal tubule and the collecting duct. The binding patterns did not change regardless of differences in age, sex, or blood type of the patients. In the renal parenchymal carcinoma, ConA, RCA and WGA, stained tumor cell as well as the renal corpuscle and the proximal tubule cells in the normal tissue. These results reveal that renal parenchymal tumors may arise from the proximal tubular epithelium or mesenchymal tissues including the renal corpusele. The tissues of glomerulonephritis and infant kidney showed similar binding pattern to those of the normal kidney.