PROTRACTED HIGH-DOSE INTERFERON-GAMMA THERAPY FOR CHRONIC EXPERIMENTAL NEPHROPATHY

This study focused on the utility of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) as a n anti-fibrotic drug in renal experimental fibrosis; the nephropathy w as induced by two doses of Adriamycin (ADR) in 20 Sprague Dawley rats. 10 of which were randomly assigned to receive IFN gamma (45,000 UI) o n alternate day for 16 weeks. At the end of the follow up, ADR rats tr eated with IFN gamma developed massive proteinuria. slight renal insuf ficiency, and presented diffuse glomerulosclerosis, tubulo interstitia l infiltration and fibrosis. No difference was found in the compositio n of tubulo-interstitial infiltrates, mainly consisting in CD4+T lymph ocytes with a minor component of CD8+T cells, in comparison with rats treated with ADR alone. These observations demonstrate the inefficacy of a protracted high-dose treatment with IFN gamma in chronic experime ntal nephropathy with interstitial fibrosis.