title: Neutrophil contribution to the crescentic glomerulonephritis in SCG/Kj mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myeloperoxidase-specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibody (MPO-ANCA) has been a useful diagnostic marker in systemic vasculitis with crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN). It is highly suspected that the antigenic enzyme MPO released from activated neutrophils is involved in these lesions. We evaluated the relationship between neutrophil functions including peripheral neutrophil counts and renal lesions in SCG/Kj mice as a model of ANCA-associated CrGN and vasculitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral neutrophil counts, the plasma levels of MPO-ANCA and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured. The capacity of MPO release and superoxide generation were evaluated as neutrophil activity. The renal lesions were estimated by grade of proteinuria, histopathological lesion, such as glomerular neutrophil infiltration and active or chronic renal injury scores with crescent formation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MPO-ANCA and TNF-alpha levels were higher than those of normal mice C57BL/6 even before overt proteinuria; subsequently, peripheral neutrophils increased. In the phase of nephritis with low grade proteinuria, the spontaneous release of MPO from peripheral neutrophils increased, while superoxide generation increased before spontaneous MPO release occurred. In addition, the renal lesion in histological observations was aggravated with ageing and the glomerular neutrophil infiltration was positively correlated with MPO-ANCA levels, as well as with histological indices of nephritis, active renal injury score; in particular, crescent formation was correlated with spontaneous MPO release. In contrast, superoxide generation was negatively correlated with the severity of this lesion during the progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that neutrophils are activated and contribute to the development of the active crescentic lesion in SCG/Kj mice.
authors.affiliation: Biodefense Laboratory, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Toyama 1-23-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8640, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishida-Okawara
authors.forename: Toshiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito-Ihara
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muso
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saiga
authors.forename: Kyuichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nemoto
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology*