Reduced Incidence of Slowly Progressive Heymann Nephritis in Rats Immunized With a Modified Vaccination Technique

Arpad Z Barabas,Chad D Cole,Aron N Barabas,Arpad D Barabas,Rene Lafreniere

doi:10.1080/17402520600563758

Arpad Z Barabas, Chad D Cole + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/17402520600563758

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Abstract

A slowly progressive Heymann nephritis (SPHN) was induced in three groups of rats by weekly injections of a chemically modified renal tubular antigen in an aqueous medium. A control group of rats received the chemically unmodified version of the antigen in an aqueous solution. One group of SPHN rats were pre- and post-treated with weekly injections of IC made up of rKF3 and rarKF3 IgM antibody at antigen excess (MIC) (immune complexes [ICs] containing sonicated ultracentrifuged [u/c] rat kidney fraction 3 [rKF3] antigen and IgM antibodies specific against the antigen, at slight antigen excess). One group of SPHN rats were post-treated with MIC 3 weeks after the induction of the disease and one group of SPHN animals received no treatment. The control group of rats received pre- and post-treatment with sonicated u/c rKF3. The incidence of immune-complex glomerulonephritis (ICGN) in the untreated SPHN rats was 87%, in the pre- and post-treated animals 13%, and in the post-treated-only rats 20%. Rats receiving sonicated ultracentrifuged rKF3 antigen did not develop ICGN. The present experiment demonstrates that the development of SPHN can be not only prevented but also effectively terminated by our newly developed modified vaccination technique.

Highlights

Autoimmune diseases in humans are treated mainly with immunosuppressive agents
slowly progressive Heymann nephritis (SPHN) is induced by the development of pathogenic aabs, but because the nephritogenic antigen is introduced in Alum or in a chemically modified format, the initiation and progression of the disease is considerably slower (Barabas et al 2003, 2004b)
Especially when the chemically modified nephritogenic antigen is administered in an aqueous medium, the slow development of the autoimmune disease resembles spontaneously occurring autoimmune-inducing events in humans (Arbuckle et al 2003)

Summary

Introduction

Autoimmune diseases in humans are treated mainly with immunosuppressive agents. These agents are non-specific in their action: they depress the overall function of the immune system and cause numerous side effects.newer approaches have shown promise. Autoimmune diseases in humans are treated mainly with immunosuppressive agents. These agents are non-specific in their action: they depress the overall function of the immune system and cause numerous side effects. Administration of pooled immunoglobulin obtained from the sera of hundreds of normal blood donors has seemed to have beneficial effects in patients with autoimmune disorders (Imbach et al 1981, Becker et al 1995, Mobini et al 1995, Jolles 2002). Discovered medications that are able to eliminate autoreactive B cells and thereby suppress pathogenic autoimmune events are promising treatment options (Saleh et al 2000, Quartier et al 2001)

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