Table 1.
Immunohistochemistry specifications.
Table 2.
Morphological analysis.
Fig 1.
Morphological evaluation of podocytes in renal biopsies of patients with FSGS and MCD.
(A) Density of WT1-labeled podocytes in three groups. ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. The bars represent the mean and the vertical lines represent the standard error of the mean. (B) WT1-labeled podocytes in the control, FSGS, and MCD groups (arrows). (C) Difference in the foot process width between control, FSGS and MCD groups showing the extensive foot process effacement in FSGS group. Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn's multiple comparisons test. The horizontal lines represent the medians, bars represent the 25–75% percentiles, and the vertical lines represent the 10–90% percentiles. (D) TEM showing more foot process effacement in a case of FSGS and more foot process preserved in a case of MCD and in a case of control group. Δ: Significant difference between FSGS and control group. *: Significant difference between MCD and control group. Φ: Significant difference between FSGS and MCD group.
Table 3.
Podocytes lesions and adaptations analysis in renal biopsies of patients with FSGS and MCD.
Fig 2.
Evidence of podocyte autophagy in renal biopsy of patients with FSGS and MCD.
(A) Density of LC3-labeled podocytes in three groups. ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. The bars represent the mean and the vertical lines represent the standard error of the mean. (B) LC3-labeled podocytes in the control, FSGS, and MCD groups (arrows). (C) Difference in the number of autophagosomes between control, FSGS and MCD groups implies higher autophagy in MCD and control group. ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. Bars represent the mean and vertical lines represent standard error of the mean. (D) TEM showing autophagosomes characterized as a multivesicle bodies containing undigested cytoplasmic material in podocytes (arrows) and pedicels (arrow head). Δ: Significant difference between FSGS and control group. Φ: Significant difference between FSGS and MCD group.
Fig 3.
Evidence of cell death in renal biopsy of patients with FSGS and MCD.
(A) Density of podocytes labeled with caspase-3 in three groups. ANOVA test followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test. The bars represent the mean and the vertical lines represent the standard error of the mean. (B) Caspase 3-labeled podocytes in the control, FSGS, and MCD groups (arrows). (C) Morphological evidence of necrosis in podocytes from control, FSGS and MCD group, indicating a higher number of podocytes with nuclear edema and cell lysis in FSGS cases. Chi-square test. (D) TEM illustrating podocytes (arrows) with morphological alterations compatible with necrosis. Δ: Significant difference between FSGS and control group. *: Significant difference between MCD and control group.
Fig 4.
Evaluation of impaired podocyte function.
Correlation between the estimated glomerular filtration rate and density of LC3-labeled podocytes in (A) FSGS and (B) MCD group. Correlation between proteinuria and foot process width in (C) FSGS and (D) MCD group. r: Pearson's correlation coefficient. rS: Spearman’s correlation coefficient.