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Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression ofurokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), uPA receptor (uPAR), and plasminogenactivator inhibitor (PAI)-1 on podocytes in immunoglobulin A (IgA) glomerulonephritis(GN). Methods: Renal biopsy specimens from 52 IgA GN patients were deparaffinizedand subjected to immunohistochemical staining for uPA, PAI-1, and uPAR. Thebiopsies were classified into three groups according to the expression of uPA anduPAR on podocytes: uPA, uPAR, and a negative group. The prevalences of the variablesof the Oxford classification for IgA GN were compared among the groups. Results: On podocytes, uPA was positive in 11 cases and uPAR was positive in 38cases; by contrast, PAI-1 was negative in all cases. Expression of both uPA anduPAR on podocytes was less frequently accompanied by tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Conclusions: Our results suggest a possible protective effect of podocyte uPA/uPAR expression against interstitial fibrosis.
