Endogenous IL-13 limits humoral responses and injury in experimental glomerulonephritis but does not regulate Th1 cell-mediated crescentic glomerulonephritis.
IL-13 is produced by T helper 2 (Th2) cells, has a role in stimulating Th2-mediated injury, alters humoral responses, and may directly suppress macrophage and neutrophil function. In immune renal disease, the engagement of different effector mediator systems, including humoral and cell-mediated effectors, can result in glomerular injury. Experimental crescentic glomerulonephritis (known as autologous anti-glomerular basement membrane glomerulonephritis) induced by planting an antigen in glomeruli of mice is Th1 directed, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH)-like, and antibody independent. To test the hypothesis that, like the counterregulatory Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10, endogenous IL-13 limits effector Th1 responses in glomerulonephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis was induced in IL-13+/+ and IL-13-/- mice. Although IL-13-/- mice developed increased serum antigen-specific antibody levels, increased glomerular antibody deposition and enhanced switching to the Th1-associated IgG2a subclass, they developed a similar degree of crescentic glomerulonephritis, with similar glomerular T cell/macrophage numbers, renal impairment, and proteinuria. Antigen-specific dermal DTH and IFN-gamma production by antigen-stimulated splenocytes was unaltered. In immune complex (apoferritin-induced) glomerulonephritis, where renal injury is humorally mediated, IL-13-/- mice developed enhanced humoral immune responses and increased proteinuria, with increased IgG2a responses, a more peripheral distribution of immune complexes, but no alterations in leukocyte recruitment. These results demonstrate dissociation of IL-13's effects in antigen induced renal disease with little effect on cellular responses but suppressive effects on humoral effectors and switching to IgG2a. They indicate a role for IL-13 in limiting antibody-mediated renal injury, but not in regulating DTH-like cell-mediated responses in the kidney.
Kitching
A Richard
AR
Centre for Inflammatory Diseases, Monash University Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Rd, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia. richard.kitching@med.monash.edu.au
Turner
Amanda L
AL
Wilson
Gabriella R A
GR
Edgtton
Kristy L
KL
Tipping
Peter G
PG
Holdsworth
Stephen R
SR
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*
D007377:Interleukin-3