T cells and macrophages in Trypanosoma brucei-related glomerulopathy

In a previous study, susceptibility for Trypanosoma brucei-related glomerulopathy in mice was shown to be dependent on non-major histocompatibility complex genes. Glomerular disease in this model could not be explained by the production of autoantibodies alone. In order to analyze which part of the defense system, in addition to the B-cell compartment, is involved in the development of this infection-related glomerular disease, groups of athymic (BALB/c rnu/rnu), splenectomized, or macrophage-depleted BALB/c mice were inoculated with T. brucei parasites. Polyclonal B-cell activation, invariably observed in infected BALB/c mice, was absent in BALB/c rnu/rnu mice. Glomerular disease in athymic mice, however, as defined by albuminuria and deposition of immune complexes, was not different from that seen in euthymic infected BALB/c mice. Splenectomy prior to inoculation of parasites led to a decreased incidence of albuminuria in 40% of the animals, whereas splenectomy 21 days after inoculation reduced albuminuria significantly, suggesting a role for spleen cells in the induction of glomerular disease. After macrophage depletion with liposome-encapsulated dichlorodimethylene-diphosphonate, infected BALB/c mice developed significantly higher albuminuria levels for a period up to 2 weeks after depletion. Therefore, it was concluded that the development of T. brucei-related glomerular disease is independent of thymus-matured T cells, while the involvement of macrophages in the development of proteinuria is inhibitory rather than disease inducing. Spleen cells other than thymus-dependent T cells, B cells, and macrophages should be investigated for their role in the pathogenesis of this glomerulopathy.