Peanut and Lotus tetragonolobus binding sites in human kidney from congenital nephrotic syndrome of Finnish type

The authors have studied kidney tissues from two cases of Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome of Finnish Type (CNS:FT), two cases of infantile polycystic disease and five normal newborns using Peanut (PNA) and Lotus Tetragonolobus (LTA) peroxidase-labeled lectins. In CNS:FT a positive reaction for LTA has been documented at the luminal surface of the microcysts, while no staining was observed with PNA. In infantile polycystic disease the cysts were stained by PNA, whereas LTA binds selectively proximal undilated tubules. In normal kidney distal tubules as well as collecting ducts and proximal tubules were stained by PNA and LTA respectively. The results suggest that in CNS:FT microcystic transformation of the kidney can originate from proximal tubules according to microdissection studies elsewhere reported.