INCREASED NATURAL-KILLER-CELL ACTIVITY IN A MODEL OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN-ANEPHROPATHY SECONDARY TO CHRONIC ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION

We investigated natural killer (NK) cell activity in an animal model o f ethanol-induced immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. Two groups, of 1 0 rats each, received a continuous intragastric infusion of liquid die t through a permanent cannula for 6 weeks. The alcoholic group was inf used additionally with intragastric ethanol, representing from 32% to 40% of the caloric requirement. The group of control rats received an isocaloric diet supplemented with glucose instead of alcohol. IgA neph ropathy was observed in all the alcoholic rats but in none of the cont rols. NK cell activity was investigated in the two groups by measuring the cytotoxicity of spleen cells using the chromium release method. N K cell activity was found to be significantly increased in the alcohol ic rats. In view of the known modulation of IgA synthesis by NK cells, we suggest that increased NK cell activity may be a contributing fact or to the high levels of circulating IgA seen in IgA nephropathy secon dary to chronic alcohol consumption.