ALPHA-1-ANTICHYMOTRYPSIN IN RENAL BIOPSIES

α1-Antichymotrypsin (α1-AK) and α1-antitrypsin (α1-AT) represent a defense mechanism to protect the tissues from protelytic enzyme activity. We studied the implication of α1-AK and α1-AT in glomeruli of patients with different nephropathies based on the analysis of 52 paraffin-embedded renal biopsies with α1-AK and α1-AT antisera. The results demonstrate an intense α1-AK glomerular staining in renal biopsies from patients with minimal-change disease, while a minor staining of this protein was found in the other nephropathies. No significant evidence of α1-AT deposits was observed in our cases. Our findings sugest that when α1-AK is lacking in glomeruli the defense mechanisms against proteolytic enzymes may not be efficient enough to protect the glomerular structures and limit the damage. Since α1-AK is a reactant of the acute phase of inflammation, it may be considered as a marker of activity for monocyte-macrophages in glomerular damage.