Novel therapeutic approach by culture filtrate of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii (CneF) in experimental immune complex glomerulonephritis

The present study was undertaken to determine the therapeutic effect of the culture filtrate of Cryptococcus neoformans var, gattii (CneF) in experime ntal immune complex glomerulonephritis. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) nephriti s was induced in rats by a subcutaneous immunization and daily intravenous administration of BSA. CneF solution at three different doses (36, 54, and 90 mg/kg based on carbohydrate concentration) was administered intraperiton eally at regular 72-h intervals for 4 weeks. Onset of treatment was day 65, and urinary protein was measured at different intervals. Animals were euth anized on day 107. Serum and urine determinants were measured at the time o f sacrifice and kidney specimens were examined. Results of this experiment showed that CneF therapy could significantly reduce the urinary protein exc retion, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma concentration of triglyceride, an d increase the serum HDL cholesterol in treated rats vs. nontreated control s. Moreover, there was significant difference in glomerular changes between treated and nontreated groups. These observations show that the beneficial effect of CneF may be related to decreased number of glomerular leukocytes . Our findings suggest that treatment with CneF as a new antiinflammatory c ompound can reduce proteinuria, suppress the development of glomerular lesi ons, and exert lipid-lowering property in a rat model of immune complex glo merulonephritis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.