Changes in Ia expression in mouse kidney during acute graft-vs-host disease

We induced graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) in mice to determine whether immunologic stimuli could alter renal Ia expression. Two strain combinations were used: B6.C-H-2bm12 into C57BL/6, an I-A mutation difference, and A.SW into A.TL, differing in the I and D regions of H-2. By day 10 after allogeneic reconstitution of lethally irradiated recipients with bone marrow and spleen cells, the recipients had developed acute GVHD, as measured by their spleen to body weight ratio. Histologic examination revealed focal interstitial infiltrates of mononuclear cells in the kidneys. The expression of host Ia in these kidneys was increased up to 10-fold, as measured by absorption, and indirect immunofluorescence indicated that certain renal tubule cells had become strongly positive, suggesting that these were the principal sites of the increase in Ia expression. Similar increases were not observed in donor Ia. Tubule cells may have become Ia positive by passive uptake, or more probably, by the increase of Ia biosynthesis in cells that usually synthesize little or no Ia. Lethal irradiation without reconstitution tended to decrease renal Ia expression, as assessed by absorption and immunofluorescence. The results indicate that renal Ia expression, particularly in renal tubules, can be altered by changes in the immune system, raising the possibility of a role for such altered Ia expression in autoimmune or alloimmune responses involving the kidney.