DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY TO ESCHERICHIA-COLI IN RAT - STUDY OF ITS POSSIBLE RELEVANCE TO PATHOGENESIS OF KIDNEY SCARS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (5) , 549-556
Abstract
Rats sensitized to various strains of E. coli (078, O2K13H1, O6K13H1 and O6K2a2cH1) showed cutaneous delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions after intradermal challenge with the same or a different strain of E. coli. Cutaneous DTH was transferred to non-sensitized rats by administration of lymphocytes from sensitized animals. The common antigen(s) responsible for DTH was not identified but DTH reactions were unrelated to the O or K serotype of the E. coli strains used. Intrarenal administration of killed E. coli to animals showing cutaneous DTH and to non-sensitized controls did not produce evidence of DTH reactions in the kidney. Intrarenal administration of killed E. coli to animals showing cutaneous DTH and to non-sensitized controls did not produce evidence of DTH reactions in the kidney. Intrarenal administration of formalin- or heat-killed E. coli leads to kidney scarring in sensitized animals and non-sensitized controls. These scars were comparable in severity, and were similar to those obtained after infection of the kidney with live organisms. DTH reactions do not play a role in the pathogenesis of kidney scarring associated with E. coli infection of the rat kidney. The strains of E. coli studied possess a common heat- and formalin-stable nephrotoxic factor which induces kidney scarring.