A novel evaluation method for paraffinized human renal biopsies using quantitative analysis of microdissected glomeruli and VCAM-1 as marker of inflammatory mesangial cell activation

In the glomerular mesangium, immunologic and/or infectious activation of the inflammatory, NF-kappaB-mediated signal pathway can induce a progression of already existing mesangial lesions in non-immunologic and immunologic glomerular disease. This progression is preceded by upregulated mesangial gene expression of which the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), is a well-established marker. Its evaluation on minimal tissue such as routinely paraffinized needle core biopsies is not established and needs the development of a novel evaluation method more meaningful than common immunohistology.