Periglomerular accumulation of dendritic cells in rat crescentic glomerulonephritis
Fujinaka, H.; Nameta, M.; Kovalenko, P.; Matsuki, A.; Kato, N.; Nishimoto, G.; Yoshida, Y.; Yaoita, E.; Naito, M.; Kihara, I.; Tomizawa, S.; Yamamoto, T.
Journal of Nephrology 20(3): 357-363
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-8428 PMID: 17557270 Document Number: 609008
Background. An increased number of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-positive cells (OX-6(+) cells) were observed in the glomerulus and periglomerular interstitium during the course of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) crescentic glomerulonephritis (GN) in WKY rats. This study aimed to demonstrate that periglomerular OX-6(+) cells are dendritic cells (DCs) and to clarify their roles in the pathogenesis of this GN.Methods: Kidney sections were stained with the OX-6 and the rat DC marker OX-62 by immunohistochemistry, and periglomerular OX-6(+) cells were observed by immunoelectron microscopy. Renal mRNA expression for CXCL12 was examined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization, and that for IL-1 beta was examined by in situ hybridization.Results: Immunohistochemistry revealed that most periglomerular OX-6(+) cells in this GN were ED-1-negative. OX-62(+) cells were observed sparsely in normal kidney interstitium, and considerably more frequently in periglomerular interstitium in this GN. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed the periglomerular OX-6(+)ED-1(-) cells had DC morphology. The increased expression of CXCL12 mRNA in the diseased glomerulus was shown by RT-PCR. By in situ hybridization, CXCL12 mRNA-expressing glomerular cells were the parietal and visceral epithelial cells, which were close to the site of periglomerular OX-6+ cell localization. The intense expression of IL-1 beta mRNA by periglomerular cells was demonstrated by in situ hybridization.Conclusions: The periglomerular distribution of OX-6(+)ED-1(-) DCs was demonstrated in anti-GBM crescentic GN in WKY rats. These DCs might be accumulated in periglomerular interstitium by CXCL12, and play a role in the initiation and progression of this GN by producing IL-1 beta.