Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization studies of the liver and kidney in human leptospirosis

• Published in: Virchows Archiv : an international journal of pathology Vol. 448; no. 5; pp. 576 - 583
• Main Authors: DE BRITO, T, MENEZES, L. F, LIMA, Dirce M. C, LOURENCO, Silvia, SILVA, Ana Maria G, ALVES, V. A. F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.05.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Animals; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Cadherins - metabolism; Cell Membrane - metabolism; Cell Membrane - pathology; DNA, Bacterial - isolation & purification; Female; Guinea Pigs; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization - methods; Infectious diseases; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Kidney - metabolism; Kidney - microbiology; Kidney - pathology; Leptospirosis; Leptospirosis - diagnosis; Leptospirosis - metabolism; Leptospirosis - pathology; Liver - metabolism; Liver - microbiology; Liver - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Proteins; Rodents; Human; Immunohistochemistry; Leptospirosis; Digestive system; Liver; In situ; Cell adhesion molecule; Antigen detection; Hybridization; Kidney; Infection; Antigen; Anatomic pathology; Urinary system; Spirochaetosis; Liver and kidney pathology; Bacteriosis; E-cadherin immunohistochemistry; Diagnosis; Detection; In situ hybridization; E Cadherin
• ISSN: 0945-6317; 1432-2307
• DOI: 10.1007/s00428-006-0163-z

An in situ hybridization (ISH) assay for the detection of leptospiral DNA in tissues was described and its diagnostic and pathogenetic usefulness in combination with immunohistochemistry (IHC) was evaluated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver and kidney samples from human fatal cases of leptospirosis. IHC assays with anti-E-cadherin antibodies assessed the liver-plate disarray frequently observed in leptospirosis. Immunohistochemistry detected leptospiral antigen (LAg) in macrophages, both in human liver and kidney. In guinea pigs, in addition to these findings, staining on cell membranes of hepatocytes and, occasionally, in apical membrane of kidney tubular cells was demonstrated. Positive ISH signal was observed chiefly in the nuclei of human hepatocytes and in the cytoplasm and nuclei of liver cells of experimentally infected guinea pigs. Loss of E-cadherin membrane expression is associated with liver-plate disarray. These findings were discussed in the contention that, in leptospirosis, cell membrane damage might be important for the pathogenesis of the disease. Finally, it was suggested that both IHC and/or ISH might be used for both diagnostic and research purposes.