Distinct contribution of Fc receptors and angiotensin II-dependent pathways in anti-GBM glomerulonephritis.
BACKGROUND
The contribution of antibody and/or immune-complex to the pathogenesis of immunologically-mediated glomerulonephritis is not fully understood, although it has been recently clarified that Fc receptors (FcRs) play critical roles in the inflammatory cascade. We therefore re-evaluated the classical model of glomerulonephritis, anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody-induced glomerulonephritis (Anti-GBM GN), from the standpoint of FcRs and also investigated the residual FcR-independent mechanisms.


METHODS
We adopted an Anti-GBM GN mouse model that has two strains deficient in the FcR gamma chain [gamma(-/-)] or Fc gammaRIIB [RII(-/-)], and analyzed functional (urinary protein, serum creatinine, BUN) and pathological changes of the glomeruli. For the analyses of FcR-independent mechanisms, several doses of nephrotoxic serum were applied, and then mice were treated either with cobra venom factor or an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist in gamma(-/-) mice.


RESULTS
In gamma(-/-) mice, renal injuries were dramatically attenuated with an absence of polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) influx, while RII(-/-) mice suffered accelerated glomerular injuries in spite of a normal PMN influx. In the absence of FcR-dependent effects in gamma(-/-) mice, the FcR-independent pathway lead to chronic renal damage characterized by mesangial proliferation and progressive expansion of mesangial area, with monocyte/macrophage accumulation and with the expression of alpha smooth muscle actin in the mesangial cells and interstitium. Those injuries in gamma(-/-) mice were not attenuated by the decomplementation, but completely abolished by using an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results clearly demonstrate that FcRs play a pivotal role in Anti-GBM GN, especially in its acute phase. We further clarified the existence of FcR and complement-independent but antibody-dependent pathway. Furthermore, we found that those pathological changes were strongly related to the renin-angiotensin system.
Suzuki
Y
Y
Department of Immunology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Shirato
I
I
Okumura
K
K
Ravetch
J V
JV
Takai
T
T
Tomino
Y
Y
Ra
C
C
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism*; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000378:metabolism*; D013777:Tetrazoles
D000199:Actins; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D044139:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 2; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; C077793:candesartan cilexetil