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The Journal of Immunology, 1999, 163: 2243-2248.
Copyright © 1999 by The American Association of Immunologists

Increased Susceptibility to Immunologically Mediated Glomerulonephritis in IFN-{gamma}-Deficient Mice1

Guido H. Ring*, Zhenhua Dai*, Sohail Saleem*, Fady K. Baddoura{dagger} and Fadi G. Lakkis2,*

* Medical and Research Services, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30033; and {dagger} Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14215


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
It is postulated that IFN-{gamma} confers susceptibility to immunologically mediated tissue injury. To test this hypothesis, we compared the intensity of accelerated anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis between wild-type (IFN-{gamma}+/+) and IFN-{gamma} gene knockout (IFN-{gamma}-/-) mice. This disease model is initiated by binding of heterologous (sheep) anti-glomerular basement membrane Abs to the glomeruli of mice preimmunized with sheep IgG. The secondary cellular and humoral immune responses to the planted Ag then lead to albuminuria and glomerular pathology. We found that IFN-{gamma}-/- mice or IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice injected with IFN-{gamma}-neutralizing Ab develop worse albuminuria and glomerular pathology than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice. The humoral response to sheep IgG (serum mouse anti-sheep IgG titers and intraglomerular mouse IgG deposits) was comparable in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- groups. In contrast, IFN-{gamma}-/- mice mounted a stronger cellular immune response (cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction) to sheep IgG than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice. These findings provide evidence that endogenous IFN-{gamma} has a protective role in immunologically mediated glomerulonephritis initiated by foreign Ags.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
The immune response to a foreign Ag planted in the kidney can lead to intraglomerular immune complex formation and, subsequently, glomerulonephritis (1). Susceptibility to glomerulonephritis in humans (2) and experimental animals is determined by the nature and intensity of the humoral and cellular immune responses to the foreign Ag (3, 4, 5, 6, 7). Th lymphocyte-derived cytokines regulate these responses and the inflammatory events that ensue (8). Several studies have provided evidence that IL-4, produced by Th2-type lymphocytes, protects against experimental glomerulonephritis by suppressing neutrophil infiltration and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH)3 responses in the kidney (9, 10). On the other hand, IFN-{gamma}, produced by Th1-type lymphocytes, is thought to promote immunologically mediated renal injury because of its immunostimulatory and proinflammatory actions (11, 12). These actions include up-regulating MHC molecules, enhancing the expression of adhesion molecules, activating lymphocytes and macrophages, and stimulating the release of inflammatory mediators (11). However, a direct relationship between IFN-{gamma} production and susceptibility to glomerulonephritis induced by a foreign Ag has not been established.

In this study, we tested whether endogenous IFN-{gamma} confers susceptibility to experimental glomerulonephritis by comparing the intensity of glomerular injury between wild-type (IFN-{gamma}+/+) and IFN-{gamma} gene knockout (IFN-{gamma}-/-) mice following the induction of accelerated antiglomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis. Accelerated anti-GBM nephritis is initiated by binding of heterologous (sheep) anti-GBM Abs to the glomeruli of mice previously immunized with sheep IgG (10, 13). The secondary cellular and humoral immune responses to the planted Ag then lead to albuminuria and glomerular pathology. Progression to glomerular crescents and glomerular fibrosis may occur, thus resembling certain forms of human proliferative glomerulonephritis (1). We report in this work that IFN-{gamma}-deficient mice are more susceptible to accelerated anti-GBM nephritis than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice. Furthermore, we report that DTH response to the heterologous Ab is exaggerated in the absence of IFN-{gamma}. These findings provide evidence that endogenous IFN-{gamma} has a protective role in immunologically mediated renal disease.


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Experimental nephritis protocol

Six- to eight-week-old male C57BL/6 IFN-{gamma}+/+ and C57BL/6 IFN-{gamma}-/- mice were purchased from The Jackson Laboratory (Bar Harbor, ME). Mice were housed at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Emory University (Atlanta, GA) animal facility in microisolators supplied with sterile food and water. Mice were injected s.c. in each flank with 0.3 mg of sheep IgG (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) mixed 1:1 with CFA (Sigma). Seven days later, they were injected i.p. with a subnephritogenic dose (2 mg) of purified sheep anti-rat GBM Ab that cross-reacts with mouse GBM (provided by Drs. K. F. Badr and K. A. Munger, Emory University). An additional group of IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice received 250 µg hamster anti-mouse IFN-{gamma} mAb (Genzyme, Boston, MA) i.p. 1 day before immunization with sheep IgG, and the same dose was given again 1 day before injecting the anti-GBM Ab. Control mice were immunized with sheep IgG, as described above, but received heat-inactivated, nonimmune sheep serum (NSS) (Sigma) 7 days later. Mice were then housed individually, and spot urine was collected daily for 4 consecutive days. Baseline urine sample was collected 1 day before injecting sheep anti-rat GBM Ab. Mice were sacrificed at the end of the fourth day, and serum and renal tissue were saved for analysis. Urinary albumin concentrations were quantitated by a colorimetric method (Sigma). Urinary creatinine concentrations were quantitated by the picric acid colorimetric method (Sigma). Albuminuria was reported as the ratio of urinary albumin to creatinine concentration (Ualb/Ucr) (9).

Histopathology

Kidney sections were fixed in B5 solution (Great Lakes Diagnostics, Troy, MI), followed by 10% neutral-buffered Formalin (Fisher Scientific, Pittsburgh, PA), and embedded in paraffin wax. Staining with periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) was performed on 4-µm sections. Light-microscopic examination was performed in a blinded fashion by a pathologist (F.K.B.). Glomerular pathology was assessed by examining at least 100 glomeruli per animal. The extent of glomerular cellularity was reported as the average number of cells per glomerulus.

RNA isolation and RT-PCR

Kidneys were flushed with ice-cold PBS, snap frozen in liquid nitrogen, and stored at -80°C. Total kidney RNA was extracted in guanidinium salt solution and purified by the cesium chloride method (9). RNA samples with OD260/280 < 1.6 were rejected. Five micrograms of total RNA were reverse transcribed using oligo(dT) primers and Superscript reverse transcriptase, according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Life Technologies, New Haven, CT). Ten percent of cDNA was then subjected to 35 cycles of PCR amplification (total volume of reaction = 100 µl) in a Perkin-Elmer Thermocycler 480 (Perkin-Elmer, Foster City, CA) using mouse IL-4- and mouse IFN-{gamma}-specific primers (9). RT-PCR controls included "no RNA" (blank) and "no reverse-transcriptase" reactions. Fifteen microliters of each RT-PCR were electrophoresed on 2% SeaKem LE agarose (American Bioanalytical, Natick, MA) gels and stained with ethidium bromide. RT-PCR of a housekeeping gene (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase) was performed to verify equal RNA and cDNA loading in the RT and PCR reactions, respectively.

Immunofluorescence

Fresh kidney tissue was mounted in OCT compound (Miles Diagnostics, Elkart, IN) and frozen in liquid isopentane (Sigma) cooled on dry ice, and 5-µm cryostat sections were prepared using a microtome (Leica, Nussloch, Germany). Direct immunofluorescence studies were performed by fixing frozen sections in acetone, followed by washing with PBS and blocking with 10% normal rabbit serum (Dako, Carpenteria, CA). Tissue samples were then stained with FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-sheep IgG (Zymed, South San Francisco, CA), FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse IgG (Zymed), FITC-conjugated monoclonal rat anti-mouse CD11b (Harlan/Serotec, Indianapolis, IN), or FITC-conjugated monoclonal rat anti-mouse CD3 (Harlan/Serotec). After washing with PBS, sections were studied under a fluorescence microscope in a blinded fashion. The average number of intraglomerular monocytes/macrophages/neutrophils (CD11b+ cells) and T lymphocytes (CD3+ cells) was determined by examining at least 100 glomeruli per animal. The binding of FITC-conjugated rabbit anti-sheep and rabbit anti-mouse Ab to the glomeruli was graded on a scale of 0–4 by a pathologist (F.K.B.) in a blinded fashion.

Measurement of circulating mouse anti-sheep IgG Ab titers

Microtiter wells (Nunc, Roskilde, Denmark) were coated with 1 mg/ml normal sheep IgG (Sigma) in carbonate/bicarbonate buffer (pH 9.5) by incubation overnight at 4°C, washed twice in wash buffer (0.1% Tween-20 in PBS), and blocked with 2% BSA in wash buffer for 1 h at room temperature (7). Wells were washed twice before incubation overnight with triplicate serial dilutions of mouse serum. After three washes, wells were incubated with horseradish peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-mouse IgG (Sigma) (1:2000), anti-mouse IgG1 (Zymed) (1:1000), or anti-mouse IgG2b (Zymed) (1:2000) for 2 h. Wells were finally washed six times and incubated with 0.1 M of the substrate 2,2'-azino-di-3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonate (ABTS; Boehringer Mannheim, Indianapolis, IN) in 0.02% H2O2 for 1 h at room temperature. The reaction was stopped by adding an equal volume of 0.01% sodium azide in 0.1 M citric acid solution, and absorbance at 405 nm (OD405) was read immediately in a microplate reader (Bio-Rad, Richmond, CA). Control serum was obtained from nonimmunized mice.

Delayed-type hypersensitivity

Mice were immunized s.c. in each flank with 0.3 mg of sheep IgG (Sigma) mixed 1:1 with CFA. Seven days later, 50 µg of sheep IgG in 30 µl PBS was injected intradermally in the right footpad. The left footpad (control) was injected with 50 µg of BSA in 30 µl PBS. Twenty-four and 48 h later, right and left footpad thickness was measured in a blinded fashion using a dial gauge (Starrett, Small Parts, Miami Lakes, FL). The DTH response was determined by subtracting the left footpad thickness from that of the right footpad ({Delta} footpad thickness).

Urinary nitric oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) concentrations in mouse urine samples were measured by a colorimetric assay kit, according to the manufacturer’s instructions (Biomol Quantizyme Assay System, Biomol Research Laboratories, Plymouth Meeting, PA). This assay measures the total concentration of nitrates and nitrites, stable breakdown products of NO, following the addition of the enzyme nitrate reductase to the samples. Total nitrate and nitrite concentrations were divided by the creatinine concentration in each urine sample to adjust for variations in urine collection.

Statistical analysis

Analysis of variance (Fisher’s protected least significant difference and/or Scheffe’s test) or unpaired t test was used to compare differences between groups. The confidence interval was set at 95%.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Difference in susceptibility to accelerated anti-GBM nephritis between IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice

To study the role of IFN-{gamma} in the pathogenesis of experimental glomerulonephritis induced by foreign Ag, we compared the susceptibility to accelerated anti-GBM nephritis between IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice. Following the induction of nephritis, two deaths each were observed in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ group (n = 22) and in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ group treated with IFN-{gamma}-neutralizing Ab (n = 8). There was no mortality in the IFN-{gamma}-/- group (n = 19) or in any of the control groups. Dead mice were excluded from further analysis. At the end of the experiment, body weights (mean ± SD) were comparable: 23 ± 2 g, 20 ± 2 g, and 24 ± 1 g in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ group, IFN-{gamma}-/- group, and IFN-{gamma}+/+ group treated with IFN-{gamma}-neutralizing Ab, respectively. IFN-{gamma}-deficient mice were more susceptible to accelerated anti-GBM nephritis than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice, as measured by the following parameters:

Albuminuria. There were no differences in baseline urinary albumin excretion (day 0) between the different groups. Albuminuria (Ualb/Ucr) was significantly higher in IFN-{gamma}-/- mice (n = 19) than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice (n = 20) on days 2, 3, and 4 following disease induction (Fig. 1GoA). Like the IFN-{gamma}-/- group, IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice treated with IFN-{gamma}-neutralizing Ab (n = 6) had worse albuminuria on day 2 than the wild-type group. Control animals injected with NSS (n = 4/group) had minimal albuminuria without significant differences between IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice (Fig. 1GoB).



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FIGURE 1. Urinary albumin excretion. Average albuminuria (Ualb/Ucr; mean ± SE) following the induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis (A), or following the injection of NSS (control mice) (B). *, p < 0.05 when compared with day-matched IFN-{gamma}+/+ group.

 
Histopathology. Four days following anti-GBM Ab injection, kidney tissue was analyzed for histopathologic changes. Four IFN-{gamma}-/- mice (31%; n = 13 mice analyzed) and three IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice treated with IFN-{gamma}-neutralizing Ab (50%; n = 6 mice analyzed) developed diffuse renal changes characterized by moderate extracapillary glomerular hypercellularity, mesangial expansion, increased glomerular size, intracapillary PAS+ deposits, and intratubular PAS+ casts (Fig. 2Go). In contrast, only one IFN-{gamma}+/+ mouse (7%; n = 14 mice analyzed) had comparable renal pathology (Fig. 2). The remaining mice in each group developed minimal renal pathology. Glomerular crescent formation was not observed in any of the mice. IFN-{gamma}-/- or IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice injected with NSS had normal renal histology (Fig. 2Go). Commensurate with the histopathological changes, we found that average glomerular cellularity in the IFN-{gamma}-/- group was significantly higher than that in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ group following the induction of anti-GBM nephritis (Fig. 3Go).



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FIGURE 2. Renal pathology. Histopathologic examination of IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- kidneys 4 days after the injection of NSS (control mice) or after the induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis (NTS). PAS-stained tissue sections are shown (x200 magnification).

 


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FIGURE 3. Glomerular cellularity. Average glomerular cellularity (mean ± SE) was determined in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice 4 days after the injection of NSS (control mice) or anti-GBM Abs. The average glomerular cellularity in normal (uninjected) IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice is 27 and 26, respectively. *, p < 0.05 when compared with all other groups.

 
Intraglomerular cellular infiltrate. Kidney tissue was analyzed for monocytes/macrophages/neutrophils (CD11b+ cells) and T lymphocytes (CD3+ cells) 4 days after disease induction. Minimal CD11b+ and CD3+ cellular infiltration (<1 cell per glomerulus) was observed in all groups (data not shown). No differences could be found between IFN-{gamma}-deficient and IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice following anti-GBM Ab or NSS injection.

Cytokine mRNA expression in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- kidneys

Because Th1 and Th2 lymphocyte-derived cytokines regulate immune and inflammatory responses, we studied the expression of IFN-{gamma} and IL-4 mRNA in the kidneys of IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice after the induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis. As shown in Fig. 4Go, RT-PCR analysis revealed the complete absence of IFN-{gamma} mRNA in IFN-{gamma}-/- kidneys, while IL-4 mRNA expression was comparable in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- groups. These data suggest that worse albuminuria and glomerular pathology occur in IFN-{gamma}-/- mice despite the expression of IL-4, a Th2 cytokine that has antiinflammatory actions (9).



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FIGURE 4. RT-PCR analysis of intrarenal cytokine expression. Intrarenal IFN-{gamma} and IL-4 mRNA expression 4 days after induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice. Total RNA was prepared from whole kidneys, reverse transcribed, and subjected to 35 cycles of PCR. Fifteen percent of each PCR reaction was electrophoresed on 2% agarose gels and stained with ethidium bromide. Results from three separate animals in each group (lanes 1–3) are shown. Lane L, DNA ladder (pX174RF DNA/HaeIII fragments).

 
Ab binding to renal tissue in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice

Because albuminuria and glomerular pathology in accelerated anti-GBM nephritis was initiated by binding of autologous mouse Abs to heterologous sheep IgG planted along the GBM (4, 5), we investigated the presence of sheep and mouse IgG in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- glomeruli 4 days following disease induction. As shown in Fig. 5Go, linear deposits of sheep IgG were detected along the GBM of IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice, indicating that sheep anti-rat GBM Abs bind to mouse glomeruli. Linear deposits of mouse IgG (autologous Ab) were also observed in both groups. Although the staining intensity for mouse IgG in IFN-{gamma}-/- glomeruli appears stronger than that in IFN-{gamma}+/+ glomeruli in the photomicrograph shown in Fig. 5Go, blinded immunohistochemical grading of kidneys from 12 mice in each group did not reveal significant differences (mean ± SD = 2.7 ± 1.1 and 2.6 ± 0.9 in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- groups, respectively).



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FIGURE 5. Sheep and mouse IgG binding to renal tissue. Direct immunofluorescence studies demonstrating sheep IgG and mouse IgG linear deposits in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- glomeruli 4 days after the induction of anti-GBM nephritis. Control mice injected with NSS had minimal granular deposits in the mesangium (photomicrographs not shown).

 
Systemic humoral immune response to sheep IgG in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice

To quantitate the secondary Ab response to sheep IgG, we measured the serum titer of total mouse IgG directed against sheep IgG 4 days following anti-GBM Ab injection (n = 6/group). The titration curves of IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- sera were comparable (Fig. 6GoA). Moreover, there were no significant differences in IgG isotype (IgG1 and IgG2b) production between the two groups (Fig. 6Go, B and C). Control sera from nonimmunized mice had minimal Ab to sheep IgG.



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FIGURE 6. Ab response to sheep IgG in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice. Total mouse IgG (A), mouse IgG1 (B), and mouse IgG2b (C) specific to sheep IgG were measured by serum ELISA 4 days after the induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis.

 
DTH response to sheep IgG

Cell-mediated immune responses, such as DTH, play a critical role in the pathogenesis of murine accelerated anti-GBM nephritis (6, 7). To investigate whether enhanced susceptibility to accelerated anti-GBM nephritis in IFN-{gamma}-/- mice is related to enhanced cell-mediated mechanisms, we compared the cutaneous (footpad) DTH response to sheep IgG between immunized IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice (n = 12/group). Immunized IFN-{gamma}-/- mice mounted a significantly greater DTH reaction than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice, measured at either 24 or 48 h after rechallenging with sheep IgG in the footpad (Fig. 7Go). Control mice that were not immunized, but were injected with sheep IgG in their footpads, did not mount a DTH response.



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FIGURE 7. Cutaneous DTH response to sheep IgG in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice. Mice were immunized s.c. with sheep IgG and rechallenged 7 days later in the right footpad with the same Ag. The left footpad (control) was injected with BSA. Twenty-four and 48 h later, right and left footpad thickness was measured and the DTH response was determined by subtracting the left footpad thickness from that of the right footpad. *, p < 0.05 when compared with time-matched IFN-{gamma}+/+ group.

 
Urinary nitrate and nitrite levels in IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice

It is postulated that renal NO production, which occurs immediately following the induction of anti-GBM nephritis, protects against heavy proteinuria by lowering intraglomerular capillary pressure (14, 15). We therefore measured the concentration of nitrates and nitrites, stable breakdown products of NO, in urine samples collected from IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice before and after the induction of glomerulonephritis. We found that the total urinary nitrate and nitrite level increased by 2.7-fold above baseline in the IFN-{gamma}+/+ group 1 day after disease induction, but failed to increase in the IFN-{gamma}-/- group (n = 12/group, p < 0.05) (Fig. 8Go). Fold increase in total urinary nitrate and nitrite level was still higher in IFN-{gamma}+/+ than IFN-{gamma}-/- mice on day 2, but the difference did not reach statistical significance (Fig. 8Go).



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FIGURE 8. Changes in urinary NO levels following the induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis. NO was quantitated by measuring the total concentration of nitrates and nitrites in urine samples obtained from IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice before (day 0) and after (days 1 and 2) the induction of nephritis. Values were corrected by dividing the total concentration of nitrates and nitrites by the creatinine concentration in each urine sample. Fold increase in NO production on days 1 and 2 was determined relative to baseline (day 0). *, p < 0.05 when compared with day-matched IFN-{gamma}-/- mice.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
We examined in this study whether endogenous IFN-{gamma} confers susceptibility to immunologically mediated renal disease. Surprisingly, we found that IFN-{gamma}-/- mice or IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice treated with neutralizing anti-IFN-{gamma} Abs develop worse albuminuria and glomerular pathology than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice following the induction of accelerated anti-GBM nephritis. These observations indicate that endogenous IFN-{gamma} plays a protective role in experimental glomerulonephritis and are consistent with other experimental models in which endogenous IFN-{gamma} was found to limit immunological tissue injury induced by foreign Ags. For example, gene knockout mice lacking the IFN-{gamma}-receptor (IFN-{gamma}R-/-) are more susceptible to collagen-induced arthritis than wild-type mice (16, 17). Moreover, injecting IFN-{gamma}-neutralizing Abs accelerates the onset and severity of arthritis in wild-type mice (17). Similarly, IFN-{gamma}-/- or IFN-{gamma}R-/- mice exhibit exaggerated morbidity and mortality following the induction of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (18, 19). Tarrant et al. also found that IL-12 administration protects mice from experimental autoimmune uveitis by increasing IFN-{gamma} production (20).

We also investigated in this study the mechanisms by which endogenous IFN-{gamma} could protect from immunologically mediated glomerulonephritis. Because susceptibility to accelerated anti-GBM nephritis is determined by the humoral and cellular immune responses to the foreign Ag planted in the kidney (5, 6, 7), we compared the Ab and DTH responses to sheep IgG between IFN-{gamma}+/+ and IFN-{gamma}-/- mice. We found that the Ab response, assessed by the extent of mouse anti-sheep IgG deposits in glomeruli and by mouse anti-sheep IgG serum titers, was comparable between the two groups. In contrast, IFN-{gamma}-/- mice mounted a stronger cutaneous DTH response to sheep IgG than IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice. Exaggerated DTH response has been observed in IFN-{gamma}-/- mice stimulated with allogeneic cells (21). Conversely, DTH response to a protein Ag is suppressed when wild-type mice are treated with IL-12, which increases IFN-{gamma} production in vivo (20). Enhanced DTH responses in the absence of IFN-{gamma} could result from increased T cell proliferation, from decreased macrophage apoptosis, or both. Several investigators have shown that endogenous IFN-{gamma} is critical for limiting the proliferation of activated T cells in vitro and in vivo (19, 22, 23, 24). Munn et al. have demonstrated that IFN-{gamma} is critical for activation-induced apoptosis of macrophages (25).

Despite enhanced cutaneous DTH response to sheep IgG in IFN-{gamma}-/- mice, we did not observe increased T cell and macrophage accumulation in their glomeruli following the induction of nephritis. This raises the possibility that other mechanisms contribute to increased glomerular cellularity and albuminuria in the absence of IFN-{gamma}. Johnson et al. found that IFN-{gamma} administration inhibits mesangial cell proliferation in the anti-Thy-1 glomerulonephritis model (26), suggesting that mesangial cell expansion in experimental glomerulonephritis may be regulated by IFN-{gamma}. Several investigators have demonstrated intrarenal inducible NO synthase expression and NO production following the induction of anti-GBM nephritis (27, 28). Inhibition of NO production in nephritic animals leads to increased intraglomerular capillary pressure and, subsequently, increased proteinuria (14, 15). Because IFN-{gamma}-/- mice do not up-regulate inducible NO synthase expression in response to inflammatory stimuli (29, 30), it is possible that reduced NO production contributes to heightened albuminuria during accelerated anti-GBM nephritis in these mice. In this manuscript, we provided evidence that IFN-{gamma}-/- mice fail to up-regulate renal NO production, as measured by total urinary nitrate and nitrite concentration, following the induction of glomerulonephritis. In contrast, IFN-{gamma}+/+ mice exhibited up to 2.7-fold increase in total urinary nitrate and nitrite production. These data, however, do not identify the cellular and enzymatic sources of NO in our experimental model.

Studies in lupus-prone mice have shown that IFN-{gamma} is essential for the pathogenesis of autoimmune glomerulonephritis (31, 32, 33, 34, 35). MRL/lpr mice bred onto the IFN-{gamma}-/- phenotype develop significantly milder renal pathology than IFN-{gamma}+/+ MRL/lpr mice (31, 32). Similarly, IFN-{gamma} is necessary for the genesis of mercury chloride-induced autoimmunity and experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in mice (36, 37). In contrast, we observed that IFN-{gamma}-deficient mice are more susceptible to glomerulonephritis initiated by the binding of foreign Ag to the kidney. Our findings underscore the regulatory role that IFN-{gamma} plays in immunologically mediated tissue injury triggered by foreign Ags.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by a Veterans Affairs Merit Review grant to (F.G.L.), a grant from the National Institutes of Health (AI41643-01) (to F.G.L.), and a National Kidney Foundation fellowship grant (to G.H.R.). Back

2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Fadi G. Lakkis, VAMC and Emory University, Research 151N, 1670 Clairmont Road, Atlanta, GA 30033. E-mail address: Back

3 Abbreviations used in this paper: DTH, delayed-type hypersensitivity; GBM, glomerular basement membrane; NSS, nonimmune sheep serum; PAS, periodic acid-Schiff; Ualb/Ucr, ratio of urinary albumin to creatinine concentration. Back

Received for publication March 3, 1999. Accepted for publication June 2, 1999.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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