Proteoglycan expression in transplant vasculopathy (TV), focal glomerulosclerosis (FGS) and tubulointerstitial fibrosis (IF) in allografts.

<p>In the neointima in TV, collXVIII and perlecan were strongly expressed (A and B). Expression of agrin and versican was less prominent in the neointima but their expression was slightly upregulated in the media (compared with non-transplanted control tissue) (C and D). Dotted lines indicate the internal elastic lamina. In the glomeruli (E–H), expression of collXVIII in the glomerular BM was variable with strong expression in glomerulosclerotic lesions (E). Perlecan was strongly induced in the glomerular BM (F). Agrin expression remained similar to its expression in glomerular BMs in non-transplanted control tissue (G). Versican staining was comparable with non-transplanted control tissue (H). In the tubulointerstitium (I–L), collXVIII (I) and perlecan (J) were minimally present in IF in which agrin expression was absent (K). CollXVIII was clearly expressed by tubular BMs in cortical (I.1) and medullary (I.2) regions at similar levels. Versican was strongly expressed in IF (L). In the cortical tubular BM, collXVIII was strongly expressed with a strong, but slightly interrupted, expression of agrin (I and K). Perlecan was only weakly expressed in the tubular BM but strongly expressed in peritubular capillaries (J). Magnification 640×.