Morphological characterization of ckd in cats: insights of fibrogenesis to be recognized

Abstract

Renal fibrosis is characterized by glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis and its pathoge-nesis is associated with the activity of mesenchymal cells (fibroblasts), being essentiallycharacterized by a process of excessive accumulation resulting from the deposition of extracellularmatrix components. The aim of this study was to characterize the morphological presentation ofchronic and fibrotic lesions in the glomerular, tubular, interstitial, and vascular compartments infeline CKD, as well as the possible participation of myofibroblasts in renal fibrotic processes in thisspecies. Cat kidneys were collected and processed according to the conventional techniques forlight microscopy, circular polarization, immunohistochemistry, and electron microscopy. Fibroticalterations were present in all compartments analyzed. The main findings in the glomerular com-partment were different degrees of glomerular sclerosis, synechia formation, Bowman’s capsulecalcification, in addition to glomerular basement membrane thickening and pericapsular fibrosis.The tubulointerstitial compartment had intense tubular degeneration and the immunostaining intubular cells for mesenchymal cell markers demonstrated the possibility of mesenchymal epithelialtransition and consequent involvement of myofibroblasts in the development of interstitial tubuledamage. Infiltration of inflammatory cells, added to vessel thickening and fibrosis, demonstratedthe severity and role of inflammation in the development and perpetuation of damage. Thus, wemay conclude that fibrotic lesions play a relevant role in feline CKD and the mechanism of perpet-uation of these lesions need further elucidation regarding the origin and participation ofmyofibroblasts and consequent mesenchymal epithelial transition in this species.