Mycoplasma penetrans infection is a potential cause of immunoglobulin A nephropathy: a new animal model.
OBJECTIVE
A new animal model of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) was made by infecting mice with Mycoplasma penetrans (Mpe). To examine the pathogenesis of IgAN induced by Mpe infection, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) protein levels were compared among study groups.


METHODS
To make an experimental IgAN animal model, mice were infected with Mpe, SP-4 medium or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) via the urinary tract. To compare changes in the classical IgAN model, TNF-alpha and IL-6 RNA expression levels were measured using RT-PCR, and NF-kB protein was measured using EMSA.


RESULTS
By producing a urinary tract infection with Mpe, we developed a new animal model of IgAN with a 100% success rate. There was no difference with the classical animal model. We also observed IgG deposition in 66.67% of the Mpe-infection group. Glomerular cell and mesangial matrix proliferation was greater in the Mpe-infection group than in the control groups (p<0.05). In the Mpe-infection and classical groups, TNF-alpha and IL-6 expression levels were much higher than in the control groups (p<0.01). NF-kB expression was much higher in the Mpe-infection group (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We made a new IgAN animal model that will offer a new direction for IgAN research. The activation of inflammation factors was associated with the Mpe induction of IgAN.
Department of Nephrology, Hangzhou Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Hangzhou, ZheJiang Province, PR China.
Xue
X
Jiang
Yin-Qiu
YQ
Lv
Jian-Na
JN
Zhang
Yan-Ling
YL
Shi
Fei-Fei
FF
Xu
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000150:complications*; D018661:Mycoplasma penetrans