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-1beta 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-1beta 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-1beta.