Localisation of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase--tissue specific protector of the mineralocorticoid receptor

In vitro the mineralocorticoid receptor is non-specific and does not distinguish between aldosterone and cortisol. In vivo certain tissues with this receptor are aldosterone selective (eg, kidney and parotid) whereas others with the same receptor are not (eg, hippocampus and heart). Experiments in rats showed that 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (which converts cortisol to cortisone in man and corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone in the rat) was much more highly concentrated in aldosterone-selective tissues than in non-selective tissues. The localisation in the selective tissues was such that the enzyme could act as a paracrine or possibly an autocrine mechanism protecting the receptor from exposure to corticosterone. Autoradiographic studies showed that protection is lost when the enzyme is inhibited; 3H-corticosterone and 3H-aldosterone were bound to similar sites. These findings seem to explain why sodium retention, hypokalaemia, and hypertension develop in subjects with congenital deficiency of 11 beta-OHSD and those in whom the enzyme has been inhibited by liquorice.

Chronic serum sickness glomerulonephritis: modification of the immune response influences the rate of removal of mesangial electron-dense deposits

We have used a chronic serum sickness model of glomerulonephritis to investigate whether gross interference with the immune system can influence the rate of removal of antigen and established electron-dense deposits from the glomerulus. Radio-labelled cationized bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as antigen. During the 2 weeks after the cessation of injections, the rate of removal of antigen from isolated glomeruli and from renal cortex, liver, spleen, and lung was measured. The rate of removal of mesangial and subepithelial deposits was assessed by point-counting. Urinary excretion of free and protein-bound isotope was also measured. Having quantified the rate of removal of antigen and deposits from the glomerulus, we attempted to influence the rate of removal by interfering with the immune response in the course of recovery. Contrary to our expectations, stimulation of the immune system with antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant, 4 days after the last injection of antigen, inhibited the removal of antigen and mesangial electron-dense deposits. Prednisolone had no detectable effect, but large doses of a non-nephritogenic form of the antigen (native BSA) enhanced removal. Removal of antigen and mesangial deposits was inversely correlated with the levels of circulating anti-BSA antibody, suggesting that specific antibody, circulating through the mesangium, inhibits the removal of antigen which is already trapped at that site. None of the forms of intervention applied during recovery produced a detectable change in the rate of removal of subepithelial deposits.

Anti-Fx1A induces association of Heymann nephritis antigens with microfilaments of cultured glomerular visceral epithelial cells

Binding of anti-Fx1A to Heymann nephritis antigens (HA) on rat glomerular epithelial cells (GECs) in culture leads to capping and disappearance of antigens from the cell surface. This process may contribute to the formation of glomerular subepithelial immune deposits in vivo. The authors differentially extracted GECs to determine whether HA redistribution is mediated by cytoskeletal components. Observations were made by phase-contrast and immunofluorescence microscopy on primary and passaged GECs in monolayer culture and by spectrofluorimetry on GECs in suspension. GEC-bound sheep anti-Fx1A IgG was detected by fluoresceinated anti-sheep IgG. Microfilaments were identified by rhodamine-phalloidin staining of F-actin. After cross-linking HA on GECs by anti-Fx1A IgG at 0 C, GECs remained polygonal in shape and had diffuse granular IgG staining of their plasma membranes. Treatment of GECs at 0 C with hypotonic buffer containing 0.5% Triton X-100 produced microfilament-rich cytoskeletons that retained the shape of unextracted GECs. Further incubation with DNase I at 37 C removed microfilaments (mean fluorescence declined by 90%) and resulted in the rounding of cytoskeletons. After Triton X-100 treatment, 85% of initial GEC-bound anti-Fx1A IgG remained, but only 29% remained after DNase I. In contrast to intact IgG, detergent-extraction resulted in the complete loss of GEC-bound anti-Fx1A Fab'. Anti-Fx1A IgG did not bind to GECs pretreated with Triton X-100. Thus, cross-linking of HA by anti-Fx1A converts HA from a detergent-soluble, membrane-associated form to an insoluble, cytoskeleton-bound form. Attachment of cross-linked HA to the cytoskeleton is mediated by microfilaments.

In vivo and in vitro induction of class II molecules on canine renal cells and their effect on the mixed lymphocyte kidney cell culture

Canine renal cortical cells were obtained by collagenase extraction from allogeneic haploidentical, donor-recipient beagle littermate pairs and from unrelated mongrels. Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) of the mongrels, as well as of one member of the beagle pair that exhibited high mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) reactivity against the other were also stimulated by renal cortical cells derived from both normal and rejected transplanted kidneys in mixed lymphocyte kidney cell culture (MLKC). A moderate autologous MLKC reactivity occurred in response to normal renal cortical cells. However, rejected kidney cortical cells were markedly more stimulatory than normal renal cortical cells in both allogeneic and autologous MLKC reactions. Lymphocytes from donor animals responded more strongly to autologous cortical cells isolated during rejection of the transplant than to cortical cells from normal allogeneic kidneys. Recipient infiltrating lymphocytes and propagated T cell lines extracted from the rejected kidney also responded more strongly than PBL to cortical cells from this kidney. Gradient purification of the stimulating cortical cells resulted in one virtually pure preparation of distal tubular epithelial cells, as demonstrated by immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy, which caused enhanced stimulation in MLKC. Class II marker analysis of the canine renal cells from rejected kidneys revealed the presence of these molecules on tubular cells that were absent on normal kidney cells. A 16-hr coculture of normal renal cortical cells not exhibiting class II surface markers in the presence of allogeneic or autologous lymphocytes induced the expression of these molecules, associated with an increased stimulatory capacity. This also occurred to a lesser extent with MLC (and MLKC) cell culture media supernatants. However, the low level of class II expression by all the various gradient-purified fractions in the absence of rejection or coculture, and the increased but equivalent expression on all fractions after coculture did not correlate with the preferential stimulatory capacity of the purified distal tubular cell layer. We conclude that two signals are necessary for the MLKC reaction, one involving tissue (kidney)-associated epitopes (the nominal antigen demonstrated in this study to be present in normal distal tubular cells), the other involving class II molecules as costimulatory (amplification) moieties.

Interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration in Heymann nephritis

Interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration in rats during the development of autoimmune Heymann nephritis (HN) was studied using the fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) technique. The results were compared with those obtained by immunohistochemical studies of infiltrating T helper (T-h) and T suppressor/cytotoxic (T-s) cells, and with traditional histopathological and immunofluorescence examinations. Three weeks after initial immunization with isolated tubular brush border antigen, when the histopathological finding was quite normal, FNAB revealed increased numbers of interstitial blast cells, large granular lymphocytes and activated lymphocytes. These increases reached significant levels 2 weeks after a booster injection and were still prominent in a few rats with manifest membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) and proteinuria 14 weeks after initial immunization. Immunohistochemical staining 3 weeks after immunization showed a significant increase in T-h cells in peritubular regions. Infiltration decreased successively 2 weeks after the booster and during manifest MGN. On the other hand, the mean number of cortically infiltrating T-s cells successively increased during the course of the study and this increase had reached a statistically significant level 2 weeks after the booster. Prominent T-s infiltration appeared in a few rats 2 weeks after the booster and when MGN was histopathologically manifest, and it was then associated with histopathologically detectable interstitial mononuclear infiltration and also with blast cell infiltration in FNAB. Our results suggest linkage between tubulointerstitial lesions in HN and cell-mediated immunoreactivity, and that severe interstitial inflammation is associated with T-s cell infiltration. Cytological interpretation indicated that infiltrating blast cells were plasmablasts, which may imply local antibody production, especially since anti-brush border antibody titres and blast cell infiltration simultaneously reached maximum levels 2 weeks after the booster.

Expression of binding sites for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin at the apical aspect of collecting duct cells in rat kidney

To identify precisely the structural and functional cell type in the collecting duct of the rat kidney expressing binding sites for Dolichos biflorus agglutinin (DBA), we stained serial paraffin sections of kidney with horseradish peroxidase-labeled DBA and with immunocytochemical methods for localizing (Na+ + K+)-ATPase and carbonic anhydrase II (CA II), enzymes found preferentially in principal and intercalated cells, respectively. Most principal cells expressing a strong basolateral staining for (Na+ + K+)-ATPase showed binding sites for DBA at their luminal surfaces. However, a minority of cells rich in CA II and showing morphologic characteristics of intercalated cells also expressed DBA binding sites at their luminal surface and apical cytoplasm. These data suggest that DBA cytochemistry can provide a useful tool for studying the functional polarity of the main cell types of the collecting duct of the rat kidney.

Glomerulonephritis induced in sheep by immunization with human glomerular basement membrane

The specificity of the anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibodies in experimental nephritis in sheep (Steblay's nephritis) was studied and compared with the specificity of antibodies in human anti-GBM nephritis (Goodpasture's syndrome). Sheep were injected monthly with isolated human GBM and antibody reactivities with isolated human and sheep GBM proteins were quantified with ELISA. Expectedly, the sheep had high titers of antibodies against several human GBM antigens. These antibodies remained for the most part in the circulation. In contrast, circulating antibody levels against sheep GBM antigens remained low for a long period of time, but a significant and progressive increase coincided with the development of acute nephritis. These antibodies accumulated in the kidneys of the nephritic sheep and could be eluted from diseased kidneys. They represent auto-antibodies immunologically cross-reacting with antigens of both sheep and human GBM. The specificity of auto-antibodies eluted from the kidneys was analyzed by immunoblotting and ELISA. The major populations reacted with one subunit, termed M2, of the globular domain of collagen IV. The same subunit contains the major antigen in Goodpasture's syndrome. It is concluded that the M2 subunit of the globular domain of collagen IV is recognized by IgG antibodies that primarily bind to the glomerular basement membrane in both Steblay's nephritis and Goodpasture's syndrome, indicating that it is a main nephritogen in both diseases.

Immunocytochemistry of renin in renal tumours

We used a panel of two polyclonal antisera and two monoclonal antibodies to human renin to assess the tissue distribution of immunoreactive renin in a range of tumours and normal human tissues. The only tissue showing positive staining for renin was kidney and all four antisera stained the myoepithelioid cells in the renal cortex. In the survey of tumours we found immunoreactive renin only in renal tumours, namely, renal cell carcinoma, and nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour). The renin-positive cells were sparse and distributed mainly along the course of the tumour blood vessels. They stained positively with all four antibodies and, in pairs of serial sections, we showed that the same cell reacted with two different antisera. This suggests that renal cell carcinoma and nephroblastoma have within them cells which contain renin.

Monoclonal antibodies to human glomerular antigens. II. Using human adult kidney components as antigens

Using human kidney cortical homogenates and long-term cultured glomerular cells as antigens, the author produced three monoclonal antibodies to glomerular components; 25C reacted with the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and the wall of blood vessels but with neither the tubular basement membrane (TBM) nor the Bowman's capsule, 33G reacted predominantly with the mesangium, and 34F reacted with glomeruli and the tubular brush border in a granular pattern. Both 25C and 33G exhibited the species-restricted property, and 34F reacted with glomeruli and tubular brush border of all the species examined. Overnight incubation of the kidney sections with 4.0 M urea revealed the reactivity of 25C to the TBM and Bowman's capsule. Dot immunobinding assay revealed that 25C did not react with the known extracellular matrices examined in this study, but rather with collagenase-digested GBM fraction. Also, 33G recognized fibronectin. Western blotting revealed the binding of 34F to the 145-kDa polypeptide solubilized from the kidney with 0.5 M NaCl, and also showed the binding of 25C to 210-kDa polypeptide of collagenase-digested GBM. These findings revealed structural variations in the basement membrane and the existence of a common antigen between the glomeruli and tubular brush border in the human kidney.

Patients with IgA nephropathy have circulating anti-basement membrane antibodies reacting with structures common to collagen I, II, and IV

It has recently been shown that patients with IgA nephropathy have circulating IgA antibodies against extracts of human glomerular basement membrane. The present study extends those observations and demonstrates by using ELISA and immunoblotting techniques that patients with IgA nephropathy have circulating IgA antibodies against collagen IV alpha chains. The antigenicity of the alpha chains could be destroyed by digestion with collagenase, which indicates that the antigenic site(s) is located on the triple helical part of collagen IV. Furthermore, it was shown by inhibition tests that the IgA antibodies are directed against epitopes also present in collagen I and II isolated after pepsin digestion.

The effects of daily cyclophosphamide administration on the development and extent of primary experimental interstitial nephritis in rats

We examined the effects of daily cyclophosphamide administration on the development and extent of tubulointerstitial nephritis produced in rats injected with tubular basement membranes in adjuvant. 15 mg/kg/day of cyclophosphamide completely blocked the development of interstitial lesions, while 2 mg/kg/day enhanced the degree of interstitial injury. When cyclophosphamide in the higher dose was started early in disease, 12 days after immunization, protection from progression was also observed as well as significant reductive improvement. If cyclophosphamide was administered late in disease, 21 days after immunization, no further progression was demonstrable, but substantial injury remained. In the latter two experiments, the beneficial effects of cyclophosphamide could not be explained by a reduction in anti-tubular basement membrane antibodies bound to the kidney. In groups of immunized rats that were tested, however, cyclophosphamide was able to non-specifically impair the delayed-type hypersensitivity response to tubular antigen and PPD. We conclude, therefore, that cyclophosphamide, in high but not low dosage, if given before damage is extensive and prolonged, may successfully inhibit the cellular immune response producing primary interstitial nephritis.

Reabsorption of horseradish peroxidase by proximal tubules in rats with Heymann nephritis

The distribution of the histochemical protein tracer, horseradish peroxidase, was studied in proximal tubules of rats with Heymann nephritis. Peroxidase reabsorption was substantially reduced in stage 2 of Heymann nephritis, a period during which the brush border of proximal tubules is severely damaged by specific antibodies. Impairment of the reabsorption function could not be attributed either to proteinuria or disturbances of proximal tubule metabolism and appeared to result from loss of microvilli. Recovery of brush border membrane morphology in stage 4 of Heymann nephritis was not accompanied by recovery of the normal capacity to reabsorb peroxidase. Functional deficits resulting from immunologic injury to proximal tubules in Heymann nephritis may persist despite waning of the anti-brush border antibody response and regeneration of the brush border of proximal tubule cells.

T cell lines and clones preferentially recognizing kidney-associated antigens in end-stage renal disease

The specificity in the mixed lymphocyte kidney culture (MLKC) of T cell lines and clones derived from human end-stage renal disease (ESRD) kidneys was studied using collagenase dispersed kidney cells compared with lymphocytes as stimulating cells. These experiments were performed because of previous studies in which infiltrating lymphocytes freshly isolated from ESRD kidney tissue at nephrectomy (as well as autologous splenic T cells) were seen to directly generate this lymphoproliferative MLKC response when stimulated with autologous renal cortical cells. In the current studies, histopathologic staining of tissues and suspensions of infiltrating kidney lymphocytes showed predominance of OKT4 labeled phenotypes, and the stimulation indices in MLKC in general showed a direct relationship with the percentage of helper cells seen in the infiltrates. When T cell lines and clones derived from lymphocytes infiltrating the ESRD kidneys were tested in MLKC, there was evidence of kidney-associated, as opposed to lymphocyte-associated (MLC) reactivity using (3H) thymidine uptake as a reflection of a lymphoproliferative response. Several cell lines and clones derived from these T lymphocytes exhibited a dual reactivity. They served as responding cells in the MLKC reaction and completely suppressed a non-specific allogeneic MLC when added as third-party cells. Quantitatively, some clones suppressed when third-party x-irradiated cells were only 5% of the responding cell number in coculture. In addition to the dual reactivity, phenotypic analysis of these same cell lines and clones employing monoclonal antibodies revealed that individual cells expressed both OKT4 and OKT8 determinants. However, approximately 90% of the cells in the MLC enhancing line were labeled with OKT4. These results indicate that there is a complexity in the autologous MLKC response in that cells with both helper/inducer and suppressor/cytotoxic function take part in the reaction. Although delayed-type hypersensitivity to kidney-associated antigens is inferred as a result of these in vitro assays, nonspecific suppression of other Ia-dependent reactions can simultaneously occur.

Circulating antibody-antigen complexes following Trypanosoma musculi infection in mice genetically selected to produce high or low affinity antibody

Mice from lines genetically selected for the production of either high or low affinity antibody to protein antigens and which differ in their susceptibility to chronic immune complex disease were infected with Trypanosoma musculi. The parasite became patent in both lines by day 5 and no significant differences in the levels of parasites during the infection were observed between the two lines. Serum levels of both antigen non-specific and T. musculi antigen specific immune complexes were determined during the infection by the solid phase conglutinin and Clq binding assays. In both lines, antigen non-specific complexes were detected by day 15 after infection with maximum levels observed by day 30. At this time, low affinity line mice had significantly higher levels than did high line mice as determined by the Clq assay but not by the conglutinin assay. The deposition of immune complex like material in glomeruli, assessed by immunofluorescence, was associated with the clearance of the parasite and the presence of circulating antigen specific complexes. The pattern of localization of complexes in both lines was predominantly mesangial with some deposition in the capillaries. The intensity of fluorescence increased during the infection. Initially (day 10) only IgM was observed in the glomeruli but IgG1 and IgG2b were detected from day 20 to day 40. IgG2a was only detected on day 40. However, in none of the animals was this deposition of complexes associated with proteinuria. Hence, the data presented here show that the low affinity line mice produce higher levels of smaller circulating complexes following T. musculi infection than do high affinity mice. However, this does not result in significant differences in localization and induction of renal disease as seen following chronic antigen injection.

Possible existence of anti-renal tubular plasma membrane autoantibody which blocked parathyroid hormone-induced phosphaturia in a patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism type II and Sjögren's syndrome

We examined the effects of serum from a patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism type II and Sjögren's syndrome on renal function in rats. Infusion of 50-100 mg of the patient's immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction inhibited the PTH-induced increase in urinary phosphate excretion, but had no effect on the PTH-induced increase in urinary cAMP excretion. Infusion of the IgG fraction obtained from the sera of control subjects did not affect PTH-induced increases in urinary excretion of either cAMP or phosphate. Binding of the patient's serum IgG fraction to the membrane of isolated rat renal cortical tubules was observed by immunofluorescent techniques. We conclude that the IgG fraction from the serum of this patient with pseudohypoparathyroidism type II and Sjögren's syndrome contains an autoantibody(ies) reacting with a component(s) of renal tubular plasma membranes and blocking PTH-induced phosphaturia.

Factors influencing susceptibility of LEW rats to Heymann nephritis

Although most LEW rats develop the proteinuria of Heymann nephritis (HN) within 2 months after immunization with Fx1A, protein excretion of some animals remains normal. We have compared nonproteinuric rats with those that developed HN in order to identify factors that influence susceptibility to immunologically medicated kidney disease. In the primary response to Fx1A, immunofluorescence tests showed that antibrush border titers in serum and immunoglobulin deposition in vivo were similar in all rats. However, complement was detected only in rats with proteinuria. Reimmunization with Fx1A at 30 weeks stimulated anamnestic antibody responses in all rats. Following reimmunization, 60% of nonproteinuric rats developed severe HN with an unusually rapid (1 week) onset. Once again, complement was present only in glomeruli of rats with proteinuria. It appears that titers of antibodies to brush border, measured by immunofluorescence tests, are not an index of the pathogenicity of the immune response to Fx1A. Immunological memory, leading to rapid expression of autoimmune disease upon reexposure to antigen, can be established by a primary immunization that does not produce clinical symptoms. Abnormal urine protein composition may provide a clue to subclinical immunopathology of the kidney.

Effects of Mycobacterium bovis (strain BCG) on the interstitial cells of hydronephrotic, contralateral, and normal rabbit kidneys

Studies were undertaken to determine the effect of viable organisms of Mycobacterium bovis, strain Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG), on cell growth characteristics and phagocytic properties of cells from surgically-induced unilaterally hydronephrotic, contralateral, and normal rabbit kidneys. A single intravenous administration of 8 X 10(8) BCG organisms was given at the time of ureteral ligation. Four days after injection, explants were removed from the hydronephrotic, contralateral, and normal kidneys. Two cell types, fibroblasts and mononuclear phagocytes, grew from these explants. BCG caused a marked increase in the rate of growth of cells from the hydronephrotic and contralateral kidneys. There was no measurable effect of BCG on cells from the normal kidney.

Mononuclear phagocyte system of the mouse defined by immunohistochemical localization of antigen F4/80. Identification of resident macrophages in renal medullary and cortical interstitium and the juxtaglomerular complex

Macrophages have been identified in mouse kidney by immunohistochemical localization of the macrophage-specific antigen F4/80. They constitute the majority of the renal medullary interstitial cell population and are also found in contact with cortical distal and proximal tubules and Bowman's capsule. They are a physical component of the juxtaglomerular complex.

Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for Heymann's antigen as a contaminating minor component in nephritogenic glycopeptide, nephritogenoside

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was introduced for the detection of nephritogenic glycopeptide, nephritogenoside and Heymann's antigen. In the fraction of crude nephritogenoside which induced membranous glomerulonephritis (besides proliferative glomerulonephritis) in rats, both nephritogenoside and Heymann's antigen were detected by ELISA. On the other hand, in the sample of pure nephritogenoside which induced only proliferative glomerulonephritis, Heymann's antigen was not detected at all. These results indicate that crude nephritogenoside preparation contains Heymann's antigen as an inducing factor of membranous glomerulonephritis in homologous animals. In addition to TCA treatment or DEAE-cellulose column chromatography, gel filtration on Bio-Gel P200 was a good tool for the removal of Heymann's antigen from nephritogenoside.

Effect of reimmunization with Fx1A late in the course of Heymann nephritis

There is evidence that active immunologic injury to glomeruli and tubules does not continue into a late stage of Heymann nephritis. Support for that view has been provided by the results of a study of kidney immunopathology following reimmunization with Fx1A late in the course of the disease. An increased derangement of kidney function, observed after reimmunization, was related to changes detected in kidney morphology. The observation that immunologically mediated injury in Heymann nephritis may occur only during a limited period could have implications for our understanding of the pathogenesis of human membranous nephropathy.

Production and characterization of a monoclonal antibody to human Type IV collagen

We have produced a monoclonal antibody to human basement membrane Type IV collagen. The antibody reacts with the pepsin-resistant, collagenase-sensitive domain of Type IV collagen isolated from placental membranes, but not with human collagens of Types I, II, III, V, 1alpha, 2alpha, and 3alpha. The antibody precipitates biosynthetically labeled human Type IV procollagen, and the precipitate contains both the alpha1 (IV) and alpha2 (IV) chains, suggesting the occurrence of both of these chains within the same triple-helical molecule. When used in indirect immunofluorescence, the antibody gives brilliant staining of basement membranes from a variety of human tissues but does not stain tissues of bovine, canine, rabbit, rat, or mouse origin. It is suggested that this antibody will be of value in research on the structure of human basement membrane collagen, on the distribution of this collagen in various basement membranes, and particularly for the study of basement membranes in normal human development and pathologic processes.

Experimental induction of glomerulonephritis mediated by anti-glomerular basement membrane and anti-brush border antibodies in a single rat

This report describes induction of nephritis, which was concurrently mediated by [anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody (anti-GBM) and anti-brush border antibody, in the Wistar rat immunized with a solubilized renal antigen (S-RA). The antigen was prepared by digestion of rat cortical tissue with trypsin and pronase. Ouchterlony test using antisera to the rat GBM and brush border showed that the S-RA contained both antigens. From the S-RA the brush border antigen was isolated by affinity chromatography. At the 8th week rats injected with the S-RA showed a linear or combined linear and granular distribution of rat IgG and C3 along the GBM in immunofluorescence. The capillary granular pattern was only observed at the 16th week. In contrast rats injected with the brush border antigen remained in a capillary granular pattern throughout the experimental course. It was suggested that the rat nephritis injected with the S-RA was mediated by the antibodies capable of reacting with at least two different antigens, namely the GBM and the brush border. The possibility was confirmed by demonstrating the coexistence of these two kinds of antibodies in the serum and kidney eluate from the nephritic rats.