1. ¹Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
2. ²Clinic of Pediatric Nephrology, University Hospital of Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany

Correspondence: JU Becker, Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, Essen 45122, Germany. E-mail: JanBecker@gmx.com

Received 19 November 2006; Revised 6 July 2007; Accepted 10 July 2007; Published online 26 September 2007.

Abstract

Podocyte depletion is a critical event in glomerular diseases in general and in the development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in particular. Progenitor cell immigration is a possible mechanism of podocyte replacement for the preservation of nephron function since, with rare exception, mature podocytes are thought to be incapable of replication. We examined eight paraffin-embedded renal biopsies from six male recipients of female transplant kidneys for receiver-derived podocytes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization for the Y chromosome was combined with immunofluorescence for the podocyte marker, Wilms tumor-1 antigen. Recipient-derived podocytes were found in 4 of 8 biopsies representing 3 of the 6 patients. Overall, 5 of the 740 podocytes examined in the female-donated kidneys were male derived. Our study suggests that immigrating progenitor cells are able to replace podocytes in humans; however, the importance of this process in physiologic and pathologic conditions is unknown.