Brush border enzymes as markers for ascending pyelonephritis: active immunization with pili

Transport of nutrients into the renal brush border membrane vesicles as marker in evaluating the role of antipili antibodies in modulation of ascending pyelonephritis in rats

The uptake of D-glucose, L-aspartate, L-lysine and L-proline was investigated in renal brush border membrane (BBM) vesicles prepared from control, infected or passively-immunized-infected rats. Except L-aspartate, a progressive decrease in the uptake of these nutrients in both infected and immunized-infected groups during the course of infection was observed, but the changes were less apparent in immunized-infected rats than in non-immunized ones. The uptake of L-aspartate was increased in vesicles from early stages of infection but decreased in those from later stages. Also in L-aspartate uptake, the changes were smaller in immunized animals. The uptake of nutrients was detectable earlier than were histopathological alterations of both kidneys. The observations demonstrated that uptake of D-glucose and amino acids in the kidneys is disturbed prior to appearance of histopathological lesions and thus can be used for early detection of the disease. The data also demonstrate that antipili antibodies afford partial protection against ascending pyelonephritis.