Title
Interferon Gamma-mediated Renal MHC Expression in Mercuric Chloride-induced Glomerulonephritis
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2-1991
Journal
Kidney International
Volume
39
Issue
2
First Page
273
Last Page
281
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1038/ki.1991.33
Abstract
Interferon gamma-mediated renal MHC expression in mercuric chloride-induced glomerulonephritis. In rodents, mercuric chloride (HgCl2) causes an autoimmune disorder with glomerulonephritis (GN), and represents an animal model for the pathogenesis of GN. We have tested the hypothesis that HgCl2 induces major histocompatibility complex (MHC) expression in renal parenchymal cells, and studied the kinetics of this induction and its temporal relation to the development of immune complex deposition in the glomeruli. Mice treated with doses of HgCl2 between 2 and 3.2 mg/kg three times for one week had increased renal expression of MHC class I and class II (at the mRNA and the product levels). Class I induction was observed in proximal tubule cells, endothelial cells and glomerular cells. Class II induction was seen mainly in interstitial cells and, to a lesser extent, in tubule cells. Rénal MHC expression was maximal at one week, decreased progressively after the second week of HgCl2 administration, and reached basal levels by 23 weeks. In contrast, the amount of lymphocyte infiltration in the kidney increased from the first to the fifth week and was followed by the appearance of glomerular immune deposits from the third week on. Glomerular immune complex deposits were maximal at five weeks and, by 23 weeks, immune deposits in HgCl2-treated mice were only slightly increased over those observed in the sham group. Renal MHC induction by HgCl2 was significantly reduced by treatment with monoclonal antibody against interferon gamma. Our results indicate that, in the early phase of HgCl2-induced GN, there is induction of expression for MHC class I and II products, mediated by interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), and raise the possibility that the induction of MHC expression or other changes in gene expression induced by INF-gamma may be involved in the later development of autoimmune renal injury.
Notes
Dr. Joaquin Madrenas is currently a faculty member at The University of Western Ontario.