title: Effect of rat kidney fraction 3 (rKF3) antigen and specific IgM antibody against rKF3 on the progression of slowly progressive Heymann nephritis.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to find out if specific IgM (M) antibody (directed against rat kidney fraction 3 (rKF3)) or rKF3 antigen were able to influence disease progression in an experimental autoimmune kidney disease called slowly progressive Heymann nephritis (SPHN). The level of circulating autoantibodies (aabs) and the morphological and functional changes to the kidney were studied in six groups of rats. All of the treatment components (except post-treatment with M) used in the SPHN pre- and post-treated rats and post-treated-only rats had measurable beneficial effects (even during restimulation with the chemically modified renal antigen, 22 weeks after the induction of the disease) as demonstrated by diminished pathogenic IgG aab production, less severe kidney lesions, and proteinuria reductions. The injected rKF3 minimized progression best in this experiment, especially when administered in a pre- and post-treatment regimen. It is thought that the effect of rKF3 in the reduced progression of SPHN was due to increased production of specific IgM aabs, which in turn limited pathogenic aab production and continuous buildup of immune complexes in the glomeruli by facilitating removal or blockage of nephritogenic autoantigens from the circulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Health Sciences Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. barabas@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Arpad Zsigmond
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Barabas
authors.forename: Chad Douglas
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Arpad David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Barabas
authors.forename: Aron Nicholas
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Barabas
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lafreniere
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology*; D026541:Heymann Nephritis Antigenic Complex / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011507:Proteinuria; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D026541:Heymann Nephritis Antigenic Complex; D007075:Immunoglobulin M