A Th1 response is essential for induction of crescentic glomerulonephritisin mice

Crescentic glomerulonephritis can be induced in rodents by injection of het erologous antibodies against the glomerular basement membrane. There is evi dence that glomerular inflammation in that model represents a delayed-type hypersensitivity response to the heterologous immunoglobulin, whereas the a ntibody response is not important. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesis. Delayed-type hypersensitivity is mediated by T cells with the Th1 phenotype. We compared mice immunized with rabbit immunoglobulin G in complete Freund's adjuvant or in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, producin g, respectively, Th1- or Th2-biased responses to the antigen. Intravenous i njection of rabbit antimouse glomerular basement membrane serum provoked pr oteinuria, infiltration with T cells and macrophages, as well as profound h istological damage in the group treated with complete Freund's adjuvant. Th ere was no evidence of glomerulonephritis in the group which received incom plete Freund's adjuvant. Deposits of mouse IgG along the glomerular basemen t membrane were similar in both groups. Thus, a Th1 response appears to be essential for the induction of glomerulonephritis in this model.