Hyaluronate is a component of crescents in rat autoimmune glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND: Crescent formation is a major feature of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and is generally associated with a poor prognosis. Crescents are formed by accumulation of monocyte/macrophages and plasma proteins in Bowman's space, by proliferation of parietal epithelial cells and fibroblasts, and by deposition of the extracellular matrix. Interactions of components of the extracellular matrix with surface receptors of inflammatory cells may be important in crescent formation. One such receptor is the glycoprotein, CD44, whose main ligand is hyaluronate. We performed the present study to determine if hyaluronate is a component of crescents in a model of autoimmune anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis in rats.