Gold Induced Autoimmune Interstitial Nephsitis in Guinea Pigs

• Published in: The Japanese Journal of Nephrology Vol. 23; no. 10; pp. 1363 - 1372
• Main Authors: Ueda, Shira, Takei, Izumi, Yoshida, Hiromichi, Mori, Teruo, Mori, Yoshio, Iesato, Kengi, Wakashin, Masafumi, Okuda, Kunio, Wakashin, Yoko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of Nephrology 1981
• ISSN: 0385-2385; 1884-0728
• DOI: 10.14842/jpnjnephrol1959.23.1363

To clarify the mechanisms involved in gold nephropathy, we attempted to induce renal injuries in guinea pigs by administration of gold salt. Autoimmune interstitial nephritis was induced in Hartley guinea pigs by the injection of gold (Sodium aurothiomalate) once a week for 12 weeks. One to two weeks after first injection, the urine protein pattern showed typical tubular proteinuria in 13 (81.2%) out of 16 cases determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, and tubular basement membrane (TBM) antigen was detected in 87.5% of urine specimens. Circulating anti-TBM antibody was detected in 50%, and kidney histology revealed characteristic changes of interstitial nephritis in 12.5%. The interstitial changes consisted of mononuclear cell infiltration, fibrosis, and tubular cell damages. Positive staining was also noted along the tubular and Bowmann's capsular basement membrane of the diseased kidney in a linear pattern by immunofluorescence. Furthermore eluate from diseased kidney possessed a-TBM activity in 12.5%. These results suggest that the TBM antigen released by a toxic effect of gold, and/or gold itself will stimulate the immune systems, and hence lead to antibody formation and induction of interstitial nephritis.