Study of EHS type IV collagen lacking Goodpasture's epitope in glomerulonephritis in rats

The Goodpasture's epitope has been mapped to the alpha 3 non-collagenous chain (NC1) of type (IV) collagen [alpha 3col(IV)]. We have developed a model of experimental autoimmune glomerulonephritis (EAG) in rats immunized once with collagenase solubilized GBM (csGBM). Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor contains abundant col(IV) with little or no alpha 3col(IV). To test the hypothesis that antigens related to Goodpasture epitope are required to produce EAG in our model, we immunized rats once with 40 micrograms csEHS. Positive controls immunized with csGBM developed typical EAG with GBM bound antibody, proteinuria, and glomerulonephritis. EHS rats developed circulating and bound antibody to mesangium and tubular basement membrane with minimal GBM deposits, but did not develop proteinuria or glomerulonephritis. Although circulating antibody in EHS rats bound to csGBM by ELISA, there was no binding in ELISA to M2 antigen containing the Goodpasture epitope while EAG rat's serum did bind. By Western blot with antisera to Goodpasture epitope, EHS antigen was less complex than GBM in the monomer/dimer regions and appeared to lack NC1 corresponding to alpha 3col(IV). Blotting with sera from EHS rats demonstrated reactivity to various components of GBM but not to alpha 3col(IV). EAG sera and renal eluates bound to alpha 3col(IV). EAG rats evidenced cell mediated immunity while EHS rats did not (stimulation index EHS 1.1, EAG rats 8.0).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)