Role of antigen size and charge in immune complex glomerulonephritis

To explore the role of size and charge in immune complex glomerulonephritis, a series of sized (10,000-, 70,000-, 500,000-dalton) dextrans was modified by the addition of charged groups (diethylaminoethyl dextran, neutral dextran, dextran sulfate) and administered to mice. The animals developed glomerulonephritis characterized by the deposition of IgA with lesser amounts of IgM and C3. The pattern of glomerular response was charge dependent with neutral antigens eliciting a focal, segmental proliferative response with mesangial deposition in scant amounts. The anionic dextran sulfate led to a diffuse mesangial proliferative picture with heavy deposition. The cationic, diethylaminoethyl-dextran-treated animals showed a marked increase in mesangial matrix with much less proliferation. The importance of this model to mechanisms of complex deposition, i.e., circulating versus in situ, and the potential importance of polysaccharide antigens (this study representing the first active induction of nephritis with this class of substances) is discussed.