RENAL SCARRING IS ENHANCED BY PHORBOL-MYRISTATE ACETATE FOLLOWING INFECTION WITH BACTERIA WITH MANNOSE-SENSITIVE PILI

Renal scarring is considered to develop in the later stages of chronic pyelonephritis. In our experimental model of pyelonephritis, bacteria with mannose-sensitive (MS) pili on their surface promoted renal scar ring following inoculation into the renal parenchyma. The administrati on of cyclophosphamide to induce leukopenia and of superoxide dismutas e to inactivate superoxide released from polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) at the infection site suppressed any renal scarring following th e infection. Conversely, the administration of phorbol myristate aceta te at an early stage of infection significantly enhanced the renal sca rring. These findings suggest that the PMNs which infiltrate the infec tion site and the superoxide they release play an important role in an y renal scarring following infection with MS-piliated bacteria.