Renal tubular estrogen ß receptors are expressed at high levels in small vessel vasculitis and are primarily localized in the distal tubule

Abstract

This study investigated the possible roles of renal estrogen receptors (ER) in glomerulonephritis associated with small vessel vasculitis. The relationships of ERs were investigated in antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated glomerulonephritis and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy groups, which are small vessel vasculitis subtypes with two different glomerulonephritis development pathophysiologies. The design of this study was prepared as a retrospective cohort study. The study included 42 patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and 18 with IgA nephropathy in the small vessel vasculitis group. For the control group, intact renal tissues of 28 patients who underwent nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma were used. Renal biopsy samples of the groups were stained with ER beta (ß) and ER alpha (α). Tubular ER ß expression score (TERßES) median values were found to be significantly higher in ANCA- associated vasculitis (B = 0.724, OR [95%CI]: 2.064 [1.141-3.731], p = .016) and IgA nephropathy (B = 0.898, OR [95%CI]: 2.454 [1.307-4.609], p = .005) than in intact kidney tissue. It was determined that tubular ERß was most frequently localized in the distal tubule at 57.9% and the second most common in the proximal tubule at 20.4%. The expression of tubular ERß is increased in glomerulonephritis due to small vessel vasculitis. Tubular ERßs are most commonly localized in the distal tubule. Further studies are needed to understand the physiological and pathophysiological effects of altered renal ER levels in small vessel vasculitis.

Keywords: glomerulonephritis; renal estrogen receptors; small vessel vasculitis.