To investigate the tubular major histocompatibility complex(MHC) expression and inflammatory phenotypes in tubulointerstitial nephritis, Lewis rats were inununized with azobenzen-earsonate-tyrosine in complete Freund adjuvant and challenged either foot pad or kidney, either by subcapsular injection or by ex vivo perfusion. The rats were sacrificed 2, 3, 5, 10 and 15 days after antigenic challenge. Foot pad swelling was significant at the antigenic challenge site (151.8 vs 6.8 x 10(-2) mm) at 24 hours. Tubulointerstitial nephritis was induced by both methods and the inflammatory infiltrate which first appeared on day 2, became prominent at day 5, then gradually subsided in ex vivo perfused rats, while inflannnation started on day 3 in subcapsular injected rats. The major site of inflammation was in the cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla, with predominance of mononuclear cells throughout the course. The inflammatory cells showed mainly OX8 and ED1 positivity with OX19, W3/25 and CD5 positivity in minority.
RT1B expression was diffuse in the cytoplasm of proximal tubules at day 2 and 5. These results suggest the involvement of cell mediated immunity in this experimental model, and the possibility that tubular epidielial cells process antigen and then become targets in immune injury.
BACKGROUND The statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are approved for cholesterol reduction, and may also be beneficial in the treatment of inflammatory disease. In this study, atorvastatin was tested in experimental colitis, a disease model of inflammatory bowel disease. METHODS To induce colitis, dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) or trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) were administrated to C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice. Mice were monitored daily for loss of body weight and survival for indicated days. Colon length and histology were examined after sacrifice. RESULTS The administration of DSS induced marked colonic inflammation and shortening, and resulted in a loss of body weight. DSSinduced colitis was not affected by atorvastatin treatment, but in contrast, the administration of atorvastatin relieved TNBS-induced colitis with a resultant rapid recovery of weight loss and a reduction in colonic length shortening. Histologically, inflammatory cell infiltration in the colonic wall, mucosal ulceration and crypt disruption were also suppressed in atorvastatin treated mice. CONCLUSION These results suggest that atorvastatin preserves intestinal integrity in colitis, probably via the modulation of Th cell-mediated immune response, in a manner independent of innate immunity.