Detection of circulating immune complexes in MRL mice with different forms of glomerulonephritis.
Serum levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in MRL mice were determined using the 125I-C1q binding test and a conglutinin enzyme assay. The serum 125I-C1q and conglutinin binding capacity were correlated to the development of different forms of glomerulonephritis (GN) detected by light microscopy. The study was carried out with a total of 132 MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr and MRL/MpJ(-)+/+ mice of different age groups. From the age of 3 months on an enormous elevation of C1q- and conglutinin-binding CIC occurred in MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr mice, while in MRL/MpJ(-)+/+ mice the mean values of CIC remained low in all age groups studied. The results corresponded to histopathological glomerular findings. In lpr/lpr-mice, from the age of 3 months on, extremely severe proliferative forms of GN occurred. In most cases of +/+(-)mice examined comparatively mild glomerular lesions were found. In serum samples of Han:NMRI and C3H/He mice an increase of conglutinin-binding material was found in certain age groups, while the levels of 125I-C1q binding activity remained low in mice of all age groups studied.
Hewicker
M
M
Institute of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, F.R.G.
Kromschröder
E
E
Trautwein
G
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012376:Rodent Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex