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Escherichia coli-specific T lymphocytes in experimental pyelonephritis
J T Kurnick1, R T McCluskey, A K Bhan
1Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|November 1, 1988
Summary
In acute pyelonephritis, T lymphocytes, particularly helper T cells, infiltrate the kidneys. These T cells show specific responses to infecting bacteria like E. coli and P. aeruginosa.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Acute pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of the kidney.
- The role of infiltrating immune cells, especially T lymphocytes, in pyelonephritis pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the phenotype and specificity of mononuclear cells infiltrating the kidney during acute pyelonephritis.
- To determine the role of T lymphocytes in the host response to bacterial kidney infections.
Main Methods:
- Induction of acute pyelonephritis in rats using Escherichia coli or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
- Histological examination and immunoperoxidase staining to identify infiltrating cells.
- Isolation and culture of T cells from infected renal tissue.
- Bacterial-specific proliferation assays and MHC restriction studies.
Main Results:
- Mononuclear cells, predominantly T lymphocytes with a helper/inducer phenotype, accumulate in renal lesions.
- Infiltrating T cells exhibit specific proliferative responses to the infecting bacterial strains (E. coli or P. aeruginosa).
- T cell responses are MHC restricted, indicating antigen-specific activation.
Conclusions:
- T lymphocytes play a significant role in the kidney's response to bacterial infections like acute pyelonephritis.
- Activated T cells with specific reactivity to infecting bacteria are present within the renal lesions.
- The findings highlight the importance of T cell-mediated immunity in combating pyelonephritis.