Functional relevance of activated beta1 integrins in mercury-induced nephritis.
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Cell adhesion through different adhesion molecules is a crucial event in the inflammatory response. Integrins can only bind and mediate cellular adhesion after their activation by different specific stimuli. The state of beta1 integrin activation can be assessed by a group of monoclonal antibodies (HUTS) that selectively recognize beta1 integrins in their active form. A similar activated epitope in the rat was defined using the anti-human monoclonal antibody HUTS-21, which recognizes an activation-dependent epitope on the beta1 chain. It was found that the divalent cations Mn(2+) and Hg(2+) were able to induce in vitro the activation of beta1 integrins on rat lymphocytes. The Hg(2+) cation induces an autoimmune disease in the Brown Norway rat characterized by synthesis and glomerular deposits of anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies, proteinuria, and interstitial nephritis. Using the mercury model of nephritis, it was found that the expression of HUTS-21 epitope is induced in vivo in rat lymphocytes, and its appearance is correlated with the other parameters at the onset of the disease. In addition, the administration of HUTS-21 monoclonal antibody to HgCl(2)-treated rats offered evidence of its protective effects (1) against infiltration of renal interstitium by leukocytes, and (2) in the reduction of anti-glomerular basement membrane synthesis and glomerular deposition. Nevertheless, urinary protein values remained unaffected. These results demonstrate a key role of beta1-activated integrins in both leukocyte cell-cell interactions and leukocyte infiltration pathway mechanism, and also indicate that leukocyte migration may have less importance in the development of this disease than previously thought. (+info)
Costimulation by B7-1 and B7-2 is required for autoimmune disease in MRL-Faslpr mice.
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Autoimmune lupus nephritis is dependent on infiltrating autoreactive leukocytes and Igs. B7 costimulatory molecules (B7-1 and B7-2) provide signals essential for T cell activation and Ig class switching. In MRL-Faslpr mice, a model of human lupus, although multiple tissues are targeted for autoimmune injury, nephritis is fatal. We identified intrarenal B7-1 and B7-2 expression, restricted to kidney-infiltrating leukocytes, before and increasing with progressive nephritis in MRL-Faslpr mice. Thus, we hypothesized that the B7 pathway is required for autoimmune disease in MRL-Faslpr mice. To investigate the role of B7 costimulatory molecules in this autoimmune disease, we generated a MRL-Faslpr strain deficient in B7-1 and B7-2. Strikingly, MRL-Faslpr mice lacking both B7 costimulators do not develop kidney (glomerular, tubular, interstitial, vascular) pathology, or proteinuria, and survive far longer. Intrarenal downstream effector transcripts (IFN-gamma, IL-12, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, CSF-1) linked to nephritis remained at normal levels compared with wild-type mice. Skin lesions and lymphoid enlargement characteristic of MRL-Faslpr mice were diminished in B7-1/B7-2-deficient MRL-Faslpr mice. B7-1/B7-2-deficient MRL-Faslpr mice did not develop leukocytic infiltrates, elevated serum IgG and isotypes (G1,G2b,G3), autoantibodies, and intrarenal IgG deposits. Our findings demonstrate that B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory pathways are critical to the pathogenesis of autoimmune lupus. (+info)
Alterations in splenic architecture and the localization of anti-double-stranded DNA B cells in aged mice.
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Aging is characterized by a decline in humoral immunity and a concommitant increased incidence of anti-DNA and other autoantibodies. To define how the regulation of autoreactive B cells is altered with age, we have used BALB/c mice with an Ig heavy H chain transgene to track the fate of anti-double-stranded (ds) DNA B cells in vivo. In young adult mice, anti-dsDNA B cells are developmentally arrested and excluded from the splenic B cell follicle, whereas in most aged mice they are mature and localize within the B cell follicle. Furthermore, we have detailed global changes in lymphoid architecture that accompany aging: CD4(+) T cells are found not only in the periarteriolar lymphoid sheath, but also in the B cell follicles. Strikingly, these disruptions are similar to those that precede serum anti-dsDNA antibody expression in autoimmune MRL-lpr/lpr mice. (+info)
Transforming growth factor-beta isoforms and glomerular injury in nephrotoxic nephritis.
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BACKGROUND: Transforming growth factor-beta has three main isoforms (TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3) that have distinct but overlapping functions in immunity, inflammation, and tissue repair. TGF-beta1 has been implicated in progressive renal scarring, but the roles of TGF-beta2 and TGF-beta3 are less clear. The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression of all three isoforms in nephrotoxic nephritis (NTN) in rats and to determine the effect of TGF-beta3 infusions on injury because of its reported combined anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects. METHODS: TGF-beta1, TGF-beta2, and TGF-beta3 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry and RNase protection assays. TGF-beta3 was administered by osmotic minipumps at 2 microg/day, a dose shown to alter glomerular macrophage function in vivo. Injury was assessed morphologically and functionally. RESULTS: The three TGF-beta isoforms showed a different distribution in normal rats and after the induction of nephritis. TGF-beta1 was only detected in glomeruli of the most severely nephritic rats. TGF-beta2 was found in glomerular neutrophils, whereas damaged podocytes expressed TGF-beta3. Infusions of TGF-beta3 did not reduce proteinuria over seven days after the induction of nephritis. They did, however, have a profound effect on glomerular macrophage number (7.76 +/- 4.1 in treated rats vs. 14.4 +/- 4.7 in controls, P < 0.02). The numbers of class II-positive macrophages were similar in the two groups, whereas class II-negative macrophages infiltrating glomeruli were significantly decreased (4.06 +/- 3.1 vs. 9.1 +/- 4.4, P < 0.02). TGF-beta did not influence the amount of glomerular matrix. CONCLUSIONS: TGF-beta isoforms have different expressions and presumptively different roles in NTN. The infusion of pharmacological doses of TGF-beta3 has profound effects on macrophages infiltrating nephritic glomeruli and reveals marked heterogeneity of infiltrating macrophages. (+info)
Expression of chemokines and their receptors in nephrotoxic serum nephritis.
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BACKGROUND: Chemokines play a major role in leukocyte infiltration in inflammatory kidney diseases. The specificity of the chemokine action is determined by the restricted expression of the corresponding receptors on leukocytes. We therefore simultaneously studied the expression of CC-chemokine and CC-chemokine receptor 1-5 (CCR 1-5) mRNA in an accelerated model of nephrotoxic nephritis in CD-1 mice. METHODS: Kidneys were harvested at day 0, 2 and 7. Induction of nephritis was confirmed by assessment of albuminuria by ELISA and by histological evaluation. RNA was prepared from cortex and isolated glomeruli. RNase protection assays were performed to study the expression of chemokines, RNase protection assays as well as quantitative RT-PCR assays to study the expression of chemokine receptors. RESULTS: In the cortex of nephritic kidneys mRNA for MCP-1 was increased 5-fold on day 2 and increased 4-fold on day 7 as compared to controls. mRNA for RANTES was increased 5-fold on day 7 and mRNA for IP-10 6-fold on day 7. The increase of mRNA for the chemokine receptors CCR1 and 5 was between 2-fold and 3-fold determined by RNase protection assay and for CCR1, 2 and 5 between 2- and 4-fold as determined by RT-PCR. In isolated glomeruli we found by RT-PCR an increase of CCR1, CCR2 and CCR5 of between 3 and 12-fold. CONCLUSION: These results show that chemokines and their specific chemokine receptors are increased in parallel in this model of glomerulonephritis, consistent with the potential role of the chemokine system in leukocyte recruitment to the immune injured kidney. (+info)
Bradykinin B(1) receptor-mediated changes in renal hemodynamics during endotoxin-induced inflammation.
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Kinins have been shown to influence renal hemodynamics and function. Under physiologic conditions, most kinin effects involve bradykinin B(2) receptors, but bradykinin B(1) receptors are often induced during inflammation. The purpose of this study was to examine in vivo the effects of bradykinin B(1) receptor activation on renal hemodynamics under normal and inflammatory conditions. In anesthetized rats, activation of bradykinin B(1) receptors by arterial infusion of bradykinin B(1) receptor agonist des-Arg(9)-bradykinin reduced renal plasma flow and GFR. Prior administration (18 h) of lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation resulted in a larger bradykinin B(1) receptor-induced reduction in renal plasma flow. Values of other parameters remained unchanged, thus resulting in an increased filtration fraction. The presence and the functionality of the bradykinin B(1) receptor at the level of glomerular afferent and efferent arterioles were studied by mRNA expression analysis and intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)](i)) mobilization studies. Stimulation with des-Arg(9)-bradykinin of microdissected afferent arterioles from control and lipopolysaccharide-treated rats induced [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization without any significant difference in amplitude between control and lipopolysaccharidetreated rats. However, des-Arg(9)-bradykinin only induced [Ca(2+)](i) mobilization in efferent arterioles from lipopolysaccharide-treated rats. It is suggested that activation of bradykinin B(1) receptors located along the efferent arteriole may participate in the modification of renal hemodynamics in inflammatory states. (+info)
Increases in serum leptin levels during peritoneal dialysis are associated with inflammation and a decrease in lean body mass.
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Leptin, secreted from fat cells, functions as a lipostat mechanism through modulation of satiety signals. Markedly elevated leptin levels have been documented in uremic patients, especially in those who are treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, the role of hyperleptinemia in uremic patients is not clear, and it is not known whether elevated leptin levels contribute to uremic anorexia and changes in body composition. In this prospective study, serum leptin, C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma insulin, and body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) were measured in 36 patients (53 +/- 1 yr) close to start and after about 1 yr of PD. In addition, markers of dialysis adequacy and urea kinetics were followed during treatment with PD. During PD, the total body fat mass (20.5 +/- 1.0 to 22.9 +/- 1.3 kg; P < 0.01), truncal fat mass (11.5 +/- 0.7 to 13. 2 +/- 0.9 kg; P < 0.001), and serum leptin levels (20.1 +/- 3.8 to 35.6 +/- 6.8 ng/ml; P < 0.01) increased markedly, especially in patients with diabetes mellitus. Twenty-five PD patients that lost lean body mass during PD had significantly (P < 0.05) elevated initial CRP levels (14 +/- 2 mg/L) compared to 11 patients (<10 mg/L) who gained lean body mass during PD. A significant increase in serum leptin levels (20.9 +/- 4.2 to 42.7 +/- 4.0 ng/ml; P < 0.001) was observed in those patients who lost lean body mass, whereas no such change (18.4 +/- 8.4 to 19.2 +/- 6.4 ng/ml) was observed in the patients that gained lean body mass during PD treatment. The present longitudinal results demonstrate that serum leptin level and body fat content increase markedly during PD, especially in diabetic patients. Patients that lost lean body mass during PD had higher initial CRP levels and increased their serum leptin levels significantly during PD compared to those patients that gained lean body mass. Additional studies are therefore needed to elucidate the role of hyperleptinemia and inflammation in causing anorexia, protein-malnutrition, and changes in body composition during treatment with PD. (+info)
Cyclosporin A reduces expression of adhesion molecules in the kidney of rats with chronic serum sickness.
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Treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) improves proteinuria and reduces renal cellular infiltration in chronic serum sickness (CSS). We examined if these effects were associated with a reduced renal expression of CD54 and its ligands, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and MHC class II molecules. We studied two groups of rats in which CSS was induced by daily injections of ovalbumin (OVA): a group treated with CsA (OVA.CsA group, n = 11) and a group that received no treatment (OVA.CSS group, n = 11). An additional group of five rats (control group) received only phosphate buffer. Immunostaining techniques were used to follow CSS and to study the expression of CD54, CD18, CD11b/c, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and MHC class molecules. Proteinuria (mg/24 h) was reduced from 248.2 +/- 73.1 (OVA.CCS group) to 14.5 +/- 13.1 with CsA treatment (P < 0.0001). The renal expression of CD54 and its ligands (CD18 and CD11b/c) was reduced by 50% to 75%. Correspondingly, there was a 60% to 85% reduction in the number of infiltrating leucocytes. The number of cells expressing TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and MHC II molecules was also reduced. CsA reduces expression of CD54 and its ligands. This effect is associated with a reduction of cellular infiltration, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha-producing cells and with MHC II expression in the kidney. These findings suggest that expression of adhesion molecules plays a critical role in CSS and underline the importance of cellular immunity in this experimental model. (+info)