PubMed HealthSearch

Biomedical subjects

S R Holdsworth

Publications and source records attributed to S R Holdsworth.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Immune modulation with interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 prevents crescent formation and glomerular injury in experimental glomerulonephritis.

Crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) demonstrates immunopathological features of a T helper (Th)1-directed delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response. The capacity of Th2 cytokines to attenuate crescentic glomerular injury in this disease was examined by administering interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, singly and in combination. GN was induced by i.v. administration of sheep anti-mouse glomerular basement membrane (GBM) globulin to mice sensitized to sheep globulin 10 days earlier. Treatment (2.5 microg, i.p.) with IL-4, IL-10, or both IL-4 and IL-10 (IL-4 + 10), was started 1 h before sensitization and continued daily until the end of the study (10 days after administration of anti-GBM globulin). Control mice treated with PBS developed GN with glomerular accumulation of T cells and macrophages, crescents in 42.5 +/- 4.5 % of glomeruli (normal 0 %), proteinuria (8.3 +/- 0.9 mg/24 h, normal 0.74 +/- 0.08 mg/24 h, p <0.001) and renal impairment (creatinine clearance [cr/cl]: 93 +/- 12 microl/min, normal 193 +/- 10 microl/min, p < 0.001). Treatment with either IL-4, IL-10, or IL-4 + 10 prevented crescent formation (crescentic glomeruli: 0.8 +/- 0.5, 1.2 +/- 0.9, and 1.4 +/- 1.0 %, respectively, all p < 0.01 compared to control) and attenuated proteinuria (3.6 +/- 1.0, 2.2 +/- 0.5, and 2.9 +/- 0.5 mg/24 h, respectively, all p < 0.01 compared to control). IL-4 + 10 prevented development of renal impairment (cr/cl: 183 +/- 22 microl/min); IL-10 given alone limited the decline in renal function (cr/cl: 150 +/- 20 microl/min), but IL-4 alone did not provide any significant protection (cr/cl: 121 +/- 17 microl/min). All treatments markedly diminished glomerular T cell and macrophage accumulation, reduced interferon-gamma production by splenic T cells, prevented cutaneous DTH to the disease-initiating antigen and reduced antigen-specific immunoglobulin of the IgG2a and IgG3 isotypes. These data demonstrate that crescentic GN and renal impairment can be prevented by administration of Th2 cytokines and that this effect is associated with attenuation of the Th1 response to the disease-initiating antigen.

Adjuvants, Immunologic

Th1 responsiveness to nephritogenic antigens determines susceptibility to crescentic glomerulonephritis in mice.

The pattern of glomerulonephritis (GN) developing in response to a planted antigen (sheep anti-mouse GBM globulin) was compared in two strains of mice which demonstrated either a predominant Th1 (C57BL/6) or Th2 (BALB/c) response to this antigen. GN was induced with a subnephritogenic i.v. dose of sheep anti-mouse GBM globulin in mice presensitized to sheep globulin. Sensitized C57BL/6 mice showed pronounced cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) following the challenge with sheep globulin, low titers of circulating anti-sheep globulin antibody and high interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and low interleukin 4 (IL-4) production by splenic T cells, consistent with a predominant Th1 pattern of immune response. Sensitized BALB/c mice did not develop DTH following cutaneous challenge with sheep globulin, had higher circulating anti-sheep globulin antibody titers, and showed high IL-4 and low IFN gamma production by splenic T cells compared with C57BL/6 mice, consistent with a predominant Th2 response. In C57BL/6 mice, GN developing in response to sheep globulin exhibited a severe crescentic pattern with prominent glomerular T cell and macrophage influx and fibrin deposition. In vivo depletion with a monoclonal anti-CD4 antibody demonstrated that this injury was T helper cell dependent. Treatment with monoclonal anti-mouse IFN gamma antibody significantly reduced glomerular injury and crescent formation and attenuated the cutaneous DTH response. GN induced by the same protocol in BALB/c mice exhibited pronounced glomerular IgG and complement deposition. Crescent formation, fibrin deposition, and glomerular T cell and macrophage infiltration were significantly less than observed in C57BL/6 mice, and injury was not T cell dependent in the effector phase. These data suggest that the pattern of glomerular injury induced by a planted antigen can be determined by the balance of T helper cell subset activation. A Th1 response induces a severe crescentic pattern of GN, which like cutaneous DTH, is T helper cell and IFN gamma dependent.

Animals

Antibody independent crescentic glomerulonephritis in mu chain deficient mice.

The hypothesis that crescent formation in glomerulonephritis (GN) is a delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH)-like lesion, not dependent on a humoral immune response, was addressed using mice with deletion of the mu immunoglobulin heavy chain gene (mu chain deficient mice). Homozygous mu chain deficient mice do not develop mature B cells or produce immunoglobulin, but have intact cell mediated immunity. GN was induced in sensitized mice by a subnephritogenic dose of sheep anti-mouse GBM globulin. Heterozygous mice (mu chain +/-) demonstrated normal antibody and DTH responses to sheep globulin and developed a proliferative GN with proteinuria (6.4 +/- 1.4 mg/24 hr), renal impairment (serum creatinine 32.6 +/- 3.3 mumol/liter) and crescents in 33 +/- 24% of glomeruli, when this antigen was planted in their glomeruli. This lesion was demonstrated to be T cell dependent by in vivo T cell depletion. Homozygous mu chain deficient mice (-/-) also developed proliferative GN, histologically indistinguishable from +/- mice. Proteinuria (3.8 +/- 1.0 mg/24 hr), renal impairment (serum creatinine 24.5 +/- 3.4 mumol/liter) and crescent formation (29 +/- 2% of glomeruli) were no different from =/- mice. Mouse immunoglobulin was absent in their serum and glomeruli, however, cutaneous DTH to sheep globulin was identical to heterozygous mice. These results demonstrate that glomerular crescent formation and injury can occur independent of a humoral immune response to planted glomerular antigen and without glomerular deposition of autologous antibody. This strongly supports the hypothesis that crescent formation is a manifestation of DTH.

Animals

Anti-neutrophil monoclonal antibody therapy inhibits the development of adjuvant arthritis.

The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of neutrophils to adjuvant arthritis (AA) by in vivo depletion of peripheral blood neutrophils. Specific anti-neutrophil MoAb, RP3 (10 mg), or a control antibody was given twice daily on days 8-11 after injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in inbred male Sprague-Dawley rats. RP3 treatment inhibited the neutrophil leukocytosis associated with AA (3.3 +/- 0.6 x 10(3)/mm3 versus 21.2 +/- 6.9 x 10(3)/mm3; P<0.001). On day 12, control animals exhibited severe arthritis as assessed by articular index (AI) (9.2 +/- 1.3), increase in paw volume (149.3 +/- 10.6%), and synovial fluid (SF) cell count (5.3 +/- 0.5 x 10(5)). RP3 treatment significantly reduced AI (1 +/- 0.1; P<0.001), paw volume (103.6 +/- 5.8%; P<0.001) and SF cells (0.6 +/- 0.1 x 10(5); P<0.001) without affecting cutaneous DTH (treated 0.6 +/- 0.1 mm change in thickness, control 0.8 +/- 0.2 mm; NS). Additional experiments demonstrated that CD4+ cell depletion but not decomplementation inhibited AA development and synovial neutrophil accumulation. Depletion of circulating neutrophils prevented joint inflammation and synovial leucocyte influx in AA, suggesting a pivotal role for neutrophils in the effector phase of AA. Inhibition of neutrophil accumulation by CD4+ cell depletion and not by decomplementation suggests that neutrophil accumulation in AA is T cell-dependent.

Animals

Tissue factor initiates glomerular fibrin deposition and promotes major histocompatibility complex class II expression in crescentic glomerulonephritis.

Increased glomerular tissue factor (TF) expression is associated with glomerular fibrin deposition and renal failure in human and experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN). However, the in vivo functional contribution of TF to the development of glomerular fibrin deposition, crescent formation, and renal failure in GN has not been established. The contribution of TF to fibrin deposition and renal injury was studied in a rabbit model of crescentic GN in which glomerular macrophage infiltration, augmented TF expression, and fibrin deposition are prominent. Administration of anti-TF antibody inhibited glomerular TF activity in nephritic glomeruli by 96%, without affecting macrophage accumulation or systemic indices of coagulation. Anti-TF antibody significantly reduced glomerular fibrin deposition (fibrin scores, 0.43 +/- 0.10 (treated) and 1.40 +/- 0.19 (control); P < 0.0005), crescent formation (0.33 +/- 0.05 (treated) and 1.0 +/- 0.06 (control); P < 0.0005), and development of renal failure (serum creatinine, 168 +/- 22 mumol/l (treated) and 267 +/- 35 mumol/l (control); P < 0.04). This was associated with significant reduction in proteinuria (1189 +/- 277 mg/24 hours (treated) and 2060 +/- 336 mg/24 hours (control); P < 0.03) and expression of MHC class II antigen in glomeruli (1.25 +/- 0.41 (treated) and 2.83 +/- 0.53 (control); P < 0.03) and in tubules and interstitial areas. These data demonstrate that TF is the major in vivo initiator of fibrin deposition in crescentic GN. The reduction in proteinuria and glomerular major histocompatibility class II antigen expression by TF inhibition suggests that TF may also activate other mediators that contribute to glomerular injury.

Animals

Renal expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor and evidence for a role in crescentic glomerulonephritis in rabbits.

Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) was demonstrated in the kidneys of normal rabbits and in a crescentic model of glomerulonephritis (GN), where fibrin is a key mediator of injury. In normal kidneys, TFPI was expressed in glomeruli, in intrarenal arteries and the interstitial capillary network. Evidence for TFPI synthesis in vivo was provided by in situ demonstration of TFPI mRNA in glomeruli and intrarenal vessels and by biosynthetic labeling of TFPI released from glomeruli in vitro. In fibrin-dependent crescentic GN, glomerular TFPI synthesis and expression was initially decreased (TFPI antigen at 24 h, 7.5 +/- 0.7 ng/10(3) glomeruli; normal, 11.1 +/- 0.9 ng/10(3) glomeruli, P < 0.02) and subsequently returned to normal values. Plasma TFPI levels increased progressively throughout the evolution of disease. In vivo inhibition of TFPI using an anti-TFPI antibody during the development of GN significantly increased glomerular fibrin deposition (GFD) and exacerbated renal impairment. Infusion of recombinant human TFPI significantly reduced development of GFD (fibrin scores, TFPI treated 0.82 +/- 0.11, control 1.49 +/- 0.14, P < 0.01), proteinuria and renal impairment. This data indicates that TFPI is synthesized and expressed in normal glomeruli and is down regulated in the early response to glomerular injury. Endogenous glomerular TFPI and treatment with recombinant TFPI reduces GFD and injury in fibrin dependent GN. TFPI has the potential to be of therapeutic benefit in the management of fibrin dependent human GN.

Animals

P-selectin directs T lymphocyte-mediated injury in delayed-type hypersensitivity responses: studies in glomerulonephritis and cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity.

The role of P-selectin in T-lymphocyte accumulation and injury was studied in delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses in the skin and glomeruli of rats. Sprague Dawley rats were sensitized to sheep globulin and challenged 5 days later in the skin by subcutaneous injection and simultaneously in glomeruli by intravenous injection of a subnephritogenic dose of sheep anti-rat glomerular basement membrane globulin. This resulted in cutaneous and glomerular T lymphocyte-dependent macrophage influx and injury characteristic of DTH. Up-regulation of P-selectin expression on endothelial cells was observed in both inflammatory lesions. Treatment of rats with anti-CD5 antibody immediately prior to antigen challenge prevented the development of injury as assessed by measurement of proteinuria and skin swelling, as well as local T cell and macrophage accumulation in the glomerulus and in the skin, but did not block up-regulation endothelial cell P-selectin. Treatment with anti-CD4 antibody produced similar results. Blocking P-selectin in vivo with a functionally inhibitory antibody prevented development of proteinuria and skin swelling following antigen challenge. Local accumulation of T cells and macrophages was markedly attenuated in glomeruli and the skin and up-regulation of endothelial cell P-selectin was prevented. These data demonstrate that P-selectin is locally up-regulated on endothelial cells in T cell-dependent glomerular and cutaneous inflammation and suggests a pivotal functional role for P-selectin in local T cell recruitment and subsequent injury in DTH.

Animals

Detection of intracellular lipocortin 1 in human leukocyte subsets.

Lipocortin 1, a putative mediator of the anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids, is present intracellularly in a variety of tissues including human peripheral blood leukocytes. We investigated the presence of lipocortin 1 in human leukocyte subsets using permeabilization flow cytometry. Constitutive lipocortin 1 was detected in U937 myelomonocytic leukemia cells, and lipocortin 1 was increased by treatment with PMA or PMA+IFN-gamma (P < 0.05) but not by dexamethasone. Lipocortin 1 was present in all leukocyte subsets except B lymphocytes (CD19/20+, P < 0.001). Lipocortin 1 content was maximal in monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils and least in lymphocytes (P < 0.001). Monocyte lipocortin 1 was strongly associated with surface expression of CD14 and HLA-DR. Among non-B lymphocytes, a range of lipocortin 1 fluorescence was observed. Lipocortin 1 fluorescence was greatest in natural killer cells (CD56+, P < 0.001) and CD57+ cells, but T cell subset markers did not otherwise discriminate variations in lipocortin 1. Induction of lymphocyte proliferation by PHA, anti-CD3, Con A, superantigen, and SAC was not associated with significant shifts in lipocortin 1 content. Dexamethasone (10(-10)-10(-6) M) did not induce increases in PB leukocyte lipocortin 1. We conclude that lipocortin 1 content in human leukocytes varies significantly among phenotypic subsets. This has significance for the investigation of inflammatory disease where certain cell types predominate.

Annexin A1

Glomerular tissue factor expression in crescentic glomerulonephritis. Correlations between antigen, activity, and mRNA.

Correlations between glomerular expression of tissue factor (TF) activity and antigen and cellular localization of TF mRNA was studied in crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) in rabbits. Glomerular TF activity increased 8.7-fold 24 hours after initiation of GN (234 +/- 49 mU/10(3) glomeruli; normal, 27 +/- 10 mU/10(3) glomeruli; P = 0.003) in association with a 2.1-fold increase in TF antigen (154 +/- 34 ng/10(3) glomeruli; normal, 72 +/- 10 ng/10(3) glomeruli; P = 0.055), early macrophage infiltration, and no significant increase in TF mRNA. At the peak glomerular macrophage infiltration (day 4), TF activity remained augmented (230 +/- 63 mU/10(3) glomeruli) and TF mRNA, colocalized within macrophages, was significantly increased compared with normal (267 +/- 42%; P = 0.001). TF antigen was not increased in glomeruli (114 +/- 17 ng/10(3) glomeruli), although significant urinary excretion of TF antigen was detectable (478 +/- 121 ng/24 hours; normal, < 1 ng/24 hours; P = 0.032). At this time, the M(r) of glomerular TF (49 to 61 kd) was increased compared with TF in normal glomeruli (49 to 58 kd) as a result of increased glycosylation. At day 7, TF activity and antigen within glomeruli had decreased, although urinary excretion of TF antigen and glomerular TF mRNA remained elevated. These studies suggest that early up-regulation of TF activity is largely a result of functional up-regulation of constitutive TF in intrinsic glomerular cells. In more advanced disease, infiltrating macrophages are the major site of TF synthesis. The increased M(r) of glomerular TF, as a result of synthesis of more highly glycosylated protein by macrophages and the shedding of TF into the urine, suggests that substantial turnover of glomerular TF occurs at this stage.

Animals

Beta 2 integrin independent neutrophil recruitment and injury in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in rabbits.

The role of the beta 2 integrin cell adhesion molecules (CAM) in directing neutrophil accumulation and injury in acute anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody induced glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN) was assessed in rabbits by in vivo inhibition of CD18 dependent neutrophil/endothelial cell interactions using a monoclonal anti-CD18 antibody. Rabbits given horse anti-rabbit GBM antibody developed significant glomerular neutrophil influx (2.9 +/- 0.1 neutrophils per glomerular cross-section [c/gcs], normal 0.1 +/- 0.1 c/gcs, P = 0.002) and proteinuria (1389 +/- 257 mg/16 h, normal 15 +/- 4 mg/16 h, P = 0.0015) after 16 h. Rabbits rendered neutropenic (< 500 neutrophils/microL) by mustine hydrochloride, or complement depleted by cobra venom factor, did not develop glomerular neutrophil accumulation and had markedly reduced proteinuria after anti-GBM antibody, demonstrating complement-induced neutrophil recruitment is a major mechanism of glomerular injury in this model. Anti-CD18 antibody treatment of rabbits developing anti-GBM GN abrogated dermal neutrophil influx in response to intradermal injection of fMLP and zymosan activated serum. Treated rabbits achieved levels of anti-CD18 antibody in their serum which saturated the binding sites on rabbit neutrophils in vitro, and their circulating neutrophils had saturated anti-CD18 antibody binding in vivo. However, glomerular neutrophil influx (3.5 +/- 0.4 c/gcs) and proteinuria (1210 +/- 428 mg/16 h) were both unaffected. Thus, in this model of antibody-initiated complement and neutrophil-dependent glomerular injury, in which neutrophil transmigration across the endothelium is not required, effective functional inhibition of beta 2 integrin CAM in vivo did not reduce glomerular injury or glomerular neutrophil influx. These studies demonstrate that beta 2 integrin CAM are not a requirement for neutrophil accumulation and glomerular injury in anti-GBM GN in rabbits.

Animals

Evidence for delayed-type hypersensitivity mechanisms in glomerular crescent formation.

The role of CD4-positive T cells in glomerular crescent formation was examined in WKY rats. Glomerulonephritis (GN) was induced by a subnephritogenic intravenous dose of sheep anti-rat GBM antibody in rats previously sensitized to sheep globulin. This resulted in a severe proliferative and crescentic GN, with marked proteinuria [143 +/- 40 mg/24 hr (mean +/- SD), normal 1.6 +/- 0.7 mg/24 hr] and crescent formation involving 59 +/- 8% of glomeruli at day 10 (normal 0%). Humoral immunity to sheep globulin was evident systemically by high titers of circulating anti-sheep globulin and locally by linear deposition of rat immunoglobulin in glomeruli and cell mediated immunity by cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to intradermal injection of sheep globulin. Glomerular accumulation of CD5 positive T cells [2.45 +/- 0.21 cells per glomerular cross section (c/gcs), normal 0.18 +/- 0.10 c/gcs], CD4 positive T cells, (1.87 +/- 0.46 c/gcs, normal 0.14 +/- 0.08 c/gcs), and macrophages (22.7 +/- 5.9 c/gcs, normal 0.05 +/- 0.05 c/gcs), together with the appearance of multinucleated giant cells (0.42 +/- 0.15 c/gcs, normal 0 c/gcs) suggested a DTH-like reaction in glomeruli. Sensitized rats given anti-GBM globulin were treated with monoclonal anti-CD5 or anti-CD4 antibodies in a protocol which prevented cutaneous DTH to sheep globulin without altering the humoral immune response. Both treatments significantly reduced glomerular accumulation of CD5 and CD4 positive T cells at day 10. Crescent formation was significantly reduced (CD5 treated, 13 +/- 4% of glomeruli affected; P < 0.001; CD4 treated 13 +/- 3% of glomeruli affected, P < 0.001) compared to rats treated with an isotype-matched irrelevant monoclonal antibody. Glomerular macrophage accumulation, multinucleated giant cell formation and proteinuria were also significantly reduced by both treatments. These studies demonstrate a functional role for CD4 positive T cells as effector cells within glomeruli, separate from their role in humoral immunity, in the development of crescentic GN. The local participation of CD4 positive T cells, macrophages and multinucleated giant cells in crescent formation, and the attenuation of these features by functional T helper cell depletion suggest that local DTH-like mechanisms may contribute to glomerular crescent formation.

Animals

A role for P selectin in complement-independent neutrophil-mediated glomerular injury.

Neutrophil recruitment and lung injury following complement activation have been demonstrated to be dependent on endothelial expression of P selectin. In anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis (anti-GBM GN) in mice, acute glomerular injury results from complement-independent neutrophil accumulation. The signals for neutrophil recruitment in this model are unknown. Expression of P selectin on glomerular endothelium was demonstrated within 30 minutes of administration of anti-GBM antibody to C57/BL10 mice. This was associated with rapid accumulation of neutrophils in glomeruli which peaked at one hour (6.2 +/- 0.5 neutrophils per glomerular cross section [neut/gcs], normal 0.34 +/- 0.06 neut/gcs, P < 0.01) and significant proteinuria after 16 hours (3.6 +/- 0.5 mg/16 hr, control 0.62 +/- 0.13 mg/16 hr, P < 0.01). Complement depletion with cobra venom factor, which reduced serum C3 levels to less than 5% of normal, did not alter expression of P selectin, reduce glomerular neutrophil accumulation (6.7 +/- 0.8 neut/gcs) or proteinuria (3.7 +/- 0.5 mg/16 hr). Platelet depletion also failed to alter glomerular expression of P selectin, neutrophil accumulation or the development of proteinuria. Mice were treated with an affinity purified anti-human P selectin antibody, which cross reacted with mouse P selectin and blocked P selectin-dependent binding of thrombin-activated mouse platelets to HL60 cells and did not bind to mouse neutrophils. Treatment, one hour prior to the administration of anti-GBM antibody, markedly inhibited glomerular neutrophil accumulation (0.94 +/- 0.12 neut/gcs) and prevented proteinuria (1.0 +/- 0.2 mg/16 hr), and did not alter binding of anti-GBM globulin in the kidney. These data strongly suggest that the rapid up-regulation of P selectin expression in glomeruli following binding of anti-GBM antibody is an essential signal for neutrophil recruitment in this complement independent model of glomerular injury.

Animals

Glomerular fibrinolytic activity in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in rabbits.

Fibrin is an important mediator of injury in severe proliferative forms of glomerulonephritis (GN). Normal glomeruli express fibrinolytic activity, which may protect against the injurious effects of fibrin deposition. Changes in glomerular fibrinolytic activity (GFA) may play an important role in modulating fibrin accumulation in GN. To study the changes in GFA associated with fibrin deposition in GN, autologous phase anti-glomerular basement antibody initiated GN (anti-GBM GN) was studied in rabbits. Net GFA was significantly reduced in association with glomerular fibrin deposition (1.3 +/- 0.8 ng fibrin lysed/10(3) glomeruli/2 hr, normal 57.1 +/- 25.4 ng fibrin lysed/10(3) glomeruli/2 hr, P < 0.02). Reduced GFA in fibrin associated GN was associated with decreased expression of tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) and increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) and glomerular macrophage infiltration. In a fibrin independent model of anti-GBM induced GN (heterologous phase), with equivalent injury (proteinuria), net GFA was increased (174 +/- 64 ng fibrin lysed/10(3) glomeruli/2 hr). This was associated with increased tPA and uPA, and decreased PAI-1 in the absence of significant macrophage infiltration. These studies demonstrate that fibrin deposition in GN is associated with a net reduction of GFA, attributable to reduced expression of plasminogen activators and augmentation of PAI-1. Reduction of GFA may potentiate glomerular fibrin deposition and consequent glomerular injury. The association between glomerular macrophage influx and reduction in GFA suggests that this change may be directed by macrophages.

Animals

T lymphocyte participation in acute serum sickness glomerulonephritis in rabbits.

The extent and timing of glomerular T lymphocyte infiltration was studied in acute serum sickness (AcSS) glomerulonephritis (GN) in rabbits. AcSS was initiated by a single intravenous injection of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Rabbits developed circulating BSA anti-BSA immune complexes, and rapid immune elimination of the circulating antigen was associated with the deposition of immune complexes in the kidney and the onset of a diffuse endocapillary proliferative GN. On the day of immune elimination (defined as when less than 1% of the injected antigen remained in the circulation), rabbits developed significant proteinuria (98 +/- 36 mg/24 h; normal 14 +/- 1 mg/24 h, P less than 0.01), glomerular macrophage accumulation (44.3 +/- 21.1 macrophages per glomerulus [mac/glom]; normal 0.28 +/- 0.18 mac/glom, P less than 0.01), and a significant glomerular T lymphocyte influx (3.0 +/- 0.9 cells/glomerular cross-section [c/gcs]; normal 0.47 +/- 0.13 c/gcs; P less than 0.005). On the day prior to immune elimination, increased T cells numbers were observed in some rabbits (2.4 +/- 2.1 c/gcs) together with a minor macrophage presence (7.6 +/- 3.6 mac/glom) and minimal proteinuria (17.6 +/- 3 mg/24 h). These studies demonstrate the influx of T lymphocytes together with macrophages at the onset of proteinuria in serum sickness nephritis and are consistent with a role for cell-mediated immunity in the pathogenesis of this lesion.

Animals

Glomerular interleukin 1 production is dependent on macrophage infiltration in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis.

Both macrophages and glomerular mesangial cells have the potential to synthesize interleukin 1 (IL-1), however, their respective contributions to IL-1 production in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis (GN) are unknown. To address this problem, IL-1 production by glomeruli from rabbits with macrophage-associated anti-GBM GN (passive autologous anti-GBM GN [PAGBMGN]) and macrophage independent (heterologous phase) anti-GBM GN was studied. Macrophage-infiltrated nephritic glomeruli produced IL-1 bioactivity which was inhibitable by an anti-IL-1 antibody, and had a molecular weight consistent with rabbit IL-1. Glomerular IL-1 production in PAGBMGN was markedly augmented (1.43 +/- 0.79 U/10(3) glomeruli [gloms]/24 hr) compared to normal glomeruli (0.13 +/- 0.06 U/10(3) gloms/24 hr, P less than 0.05) or glomeruli from rabbits with macrophage independent GN (0.11 +/- 0.07 U/10(3) gloms/24 hr, P less than 0.05). IL-1 production by glomeruli from leukocyte depleted rabbits with PAGBMGN (0.16 +/- 0.07 U/10(3) gloms/24 hr) was not significantly elevated compared to normal glomeruli. Glomerular macrophages from rabbits with PAGBMGN produced more IL-1 (3.62 +/- 1.63 U/10(3) cells/24 hr) than blood monocytes (0.51 +/- 0.30 U/10(3) cells/24 hr) or alveolar macrophages (0.24 +/- 0.12 U/10(3) cells/24 hr) from the same animals. These results show that in experimental anti-GBM GN where injury is macrophage dependent, IL-1 production is also macrophage dependent and infiltrating glomerular macrophages are the major source of IL-1. Further, as glomerular IL-1 production was not significantly augmented in GN in the absence of macrophages, glomerular deposition of immunoglobulin and complement alone do not stimulate significant IL-1 production by intrinsic glomerular cells in experimental anti-GBM GN.

Animals

Measurement of anti-DNA antibodies by ELISA: a comparative study with Crithidia and a Farr assay.

One hundred and twenty six sera from 116 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and from 51 control patients were assayed for the presence of anti-DNA antibodies, using a commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fifty three sera (42%) from SLE patients were positive and a further 13 sera (10%) fell in the 'equivocal' positive range. Three control sera were positive. In a standard 14C DNA Farr assay, 67 sera (53%) from SLE patients were positive. One control serum was weakly positive. There was a good linear correlation between absorption in the ELISA and the 14C DNA binding result (r = 0.73). Results in the ELISA and Farr assays were concordant in 96 of the 126 SLE sera, and 47 of 51 control sera. Sequential sera from a further 6 patients with fluctuating clinical activity of SLE showed similar patterns of change of anti-DNA antibodies in both assays. The ELISA was more sensitive than the Crithidia luciliae immunofluorescence assay which detected 44 positive sera (35%) in the SLE group. These results suggest that this ELISA assay may be a useful alternative to the Crithidia assay or an effective screen prior to testing in the more technically difficult and time consuming Farr assay for the measurement of anti-DNA antibodies.

Animals

Acute pulmonary and renal injury after administration of heterologous anti-lung antibodies in the rat. Characterization of ultrastructural binding sites, basement membrane epitopes, and inflammatory mediation systems.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats developed acute lung and renal injury after administration of heterologous anti-lung antibody. Both organs demonstrated an increase in protein permeability after antibody binding to basement membrane (BM) antigens (lung permeability index 0.342 +/- 0.009 versus control 0.214 +/- 0.011: p less than 0.05. Urinary protein excretion 5.112 +/- 0.899 mg/hour versus control 0.402 +/- 0.008 mg/hour: p less than 0.01). The threshold value for the development of lung injury was 27.2 +/- 4.8 micrograms of antibody globulin/g of tissue (micrograms/gm). Immunoblot analysis probing with the anti-lung antibody revealed at least one common antigenic determinant (82 to 84 kilodaltons) bound within collagenase-solubilized pulmonary and glomerular BMs. Increasing doses of antibody produced hemorrhagic pneumonitis and diffuse alveolar damage. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirmed linear alveolar and glomerular BM antibody binding. Immunogold electron microscopy allowed precise identification, in intense linear patterns, of BM binding sites within lung and glomeruli. Functional lung injury was prevented by either leukocyte-depletion or complement-depletion (lung permeability index antibody-treated, complement-depleted 0.235 +/- 0.034: both p greater than 0.05 compared with controls). Injury mediation in this acute humoral model of lung damage is both complement- and leukocyte-dependent, as previously described for the renal component of heterologous anti-glomerular BM antibody-induced inflammatory disease.

Animals