Myofibroblasts and arteriolar sclerosis in human diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

We examined the biopsy specimens of 62 patients with diabetic nephropathy to establish whether the myofibroblast (MF) has a role in progressive interstitial fibrosis and to ascertain whether a relationship existed between MF activity and severity of arteriolosclerosis. MF were identified by morphology and α smooth muscle actin (αSMA) immunostaining. Analysis of vascular injury was performed by counting the number of interstitial arterioles alter staining endothelial cells with von Willebrand factor (VWF) antibody. Arteriosclerosis was quantified by using a computer- aided image analyzer to measure the arteriolar wall surface and total arteriolar surface area, and the ratio of wall to total s..