THE ROLE OF EXPERIMENTAL CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE AND ALUMINUM INTOXICATION IN CELLULAR IMMUNE-RESPONSE

Background. A positive correlation between successful kidney transplan tation, few rejection episodes, greater susceptibility to infection an d morbidity in patients with high tissue levels of aluminium (Al) indi cate that the metal may play a role in the immune response. The aim of this study was to determine if experimental aluminium intoxication co uld result in significant changes in lymphocyte activity in uraemic an d non-uraemic rats. Methods. Lewis rats were divided into four groups: normals (N), nephrectomized control (U), and Al-treated (N+Al) and ne phrectomized Al-treated (U+Al), which received a cumulative dose of 30 mg Al over a 4-week period. Al quantification, histology, histochemic al analysis and immunological assays were performed after Al intoxicat ion. Results. High tissue levels of Al and positive histochemical stai ning in bones were seen in At-treated rats. Bone histology revealed os teomalacia in U+Al fats. No statistical differences were observed in m ixed lymphocyte cultures from controls and Al-treated rats, whereas U and Al-treated rats showed a decrease in lymphoproliferative response to mitogen and natural killer cell cytotoxic activity. A decreased hel per T lymphocyte: cytotoxic T lymphocyte cell ratio and a reduction in interleukin-2 production were observed only in the US AI group. A red uced number of total T lymphocytes was detected in the spleens of all Al-treated rats. Conclusions. These findings suggest that aluminium to xicity may contribute to immunological impairment in chronic renal fai lure.