Fukushima J. Med. Sci.,
Vol. 52, No. 2, 2006

[Review Article]

THE ROLE OF FB21 AS A MARKER OF GLOMERULAR
ENDOTHELIAL CELL INJURY

YUKIHIKO KAWASAKI

Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine,
Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan

(Received June 6, 2006, accepted August 11, 2006)

Abstract: FB21 was reactive with the glomerular endothelial cells and distal tubules of the human kidney and was bound to a sialic-acid-dependent cell surface antigen. We evaluated the FB21 staining in fetal kidneys, and the kidneys of children and adults with normal kidneys and glomerulonephritis and investigated whether FB21 can be used as a marker for endothelial cell injury. FB21 was reactive with the endothelial cells of normal kidneys and was detected on the surface of endothelial cells by immunoelectron microscopy. FB21 was reactive with endothelial cells in the kidneys of over 32-week fetuses. The endothelial cell FB21 staining scores in the first renal biopsy specimens of patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) were lower than in the kidneys of children with normal kidneys and was negatively correlated with their serum E-selectin concentrations. The FB21 staining of glomerular endothelial cells was similar to the staining for the other endothelial markers, CD34 and von Willebrand factor (vWF). However, FB21 staining of interstitial blood vessels was very weak and was distinct from that of other endothelial markers. These results suggest that FB21 can be used as a specific marker for glomerular endothelial cell injury in various types of glomerulonephritis.

Key words: Glomerular endothelium, markers of endothelial cell, FB21, Glomerulonephritis, E-selectin

晧晁扛彦

Correspondence to: Yukihiko Kawasaki, Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima City 960-1295, Japan.
E-mail: kyuki@fmu.ac.jp
Dr. Yukihiko Kawasaki received the 2005 Fukushima Society of Medical Science Young Researcher Award.