IgA nephropathy: lessons from an animal model, the ddY mouse

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary chronic glomerulonephritis, and was first described by J. Berger (Transplant Proc. 1969;1:939-944). Histopathologically, IgA nephropathy is characterized by expansion of glomerular mesangial matrix, with mesangial cell proliferation. Glomeruli typically contain generalized-diffuse granular mesangial deposits of IgA, IgG and C3. Since pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy is still obscure, it is important to try to determine the initiation and progression of this disease using a suitable animal model. Several investigators, including Rifai's group (Rhode Island, USA) and Emancipator's group (Cleveland, Ohio, USA), reported various experimental animal models for this disease. In 1985, Imai et al first reported that the ddY strain of mouse can serve as a spontaneous animal model for IgA nephropathy. These mice show mild proteinuria without hematuria, and mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis with severe glomerular IgA deposits in association with an increase of serum IgA level (Imai et al. Kidney Int. 1985;27:756-761). Electron-dense deposits are observed in the glomerular mesangial areas by electron microscopy. Furthermore, Muso's group succeeded in generating a mouse model of IgA nephropathy with a high incidence and early onset of glomerular IgA deposition (Miyawaki et al. Nephron. 1997;76:201-207). The selection procedure was successful in increasing the serum IgA level of the selected line. The selected ddY line (HIGA mice) showed only mild proteinuria (100-300 mg/dL) and did not show hematuria. These immunohistopathological findings in ddY mice resemble those in IgA nephropathy patients. The objectives of this review are to introduce the genetic background, Th1/Th2 polarization, expansion of extracellular matrices (ECMs) and treatment of IgA nephropathy of the ddY mouse. These findings from the ddY mouse appear to be useful in determining the pathogenesis and treatment of patients with IgA nephropathy.