Laboratory Investigation

Kidney International (1985) 27, 616–621; doi:10.1038/ki.1985.55

Distribution of the major histocompatibility complex antigens in human and rat kidney

Eeva von Willebrand, Irmeli Lautenschlager, Kaija Inkinen, Veli-Pekka Lehto, Ismo Virtanen and Pekka Häyry

Transplantation Laboratory, Fourth Department of Surgery, and Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence: Dr E von Willebrand, Transplantation Laboratory, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 3, SF 00290 Helsinki 29, Finland

Received 25 March 1983; Revised 9 October 1984.

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Abstract

Distribution of the major histocompatibility complex antigens in human and rat kidney. We have compared the distribution of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens in human and rat kidney using monospecific antisera to class I and II antigens of the MHC. FITC/TRITC double immunofluorescence was used to demonstrate these antigens in frozen sections and the Staphylococcus aureus Cowan I rosette assay on the cell surface. In both species, the MHC antigens were prominently present on the passenger leukocytes. Immunofluorescence analysis of human kidney demonstrated that the class I, beta2-microglobulin (beta2m), and class II antigens were present in the vascular endothelial cells and class I antigens in the renal tubular cells. The Staphylococcus assay demonstrated that these antigens were also exposed on the respective cell surfaces. In clear contrast, in the rat, class I, the beta2m, and class II antigens were absent from the kidney vascular endothelium of large vessels and intertubular capillaries; however, large amounts of class II antigens were seen inside the proximal renal tubular cells. The Staphylococcus assay indicated that none or very little of these antigens were exposed on the kidney parenchymal cell surface. These differences may explain why rat renal transplants are relatively non-immunogenic and easily accepted, whereas human renal transplant recipients must be immunosuppressed ad infinitum.

Distribution des antigènes du complexe d'histocompatibilité principal du rein d'homme et de rat. Nous avons comparé la distribution des antigènes du complexe d'histocompatibilité principal (MHC) dans du rein d'homme et de rat en utilisant des antisérums monospécifiques des antigènes des classes I et II du MHC. Une double immunofluorescence FITC/TRITC a été utilisée pour démontrer ces antigènes dans des sections congelées et le dosage des rosettes de Staphylocoque doré Cowan I pour les démontrer à la surface cellulaire. Dans les deux espèces, les antigènes MHC étaient essentiellement présents sur les leucocytes de passage. L'analyse en immunofluorescence de rein humain a démontré que les antigènes de classe I, 1 beta2-microglobuline (beta2m) et de classe II étaient présents dans les cellules endothéliales vasculaires, et ceux de classe I dans les cellules tubulaires rénales. Le dosage Staphylocoque a démontré que ces antigènes étaient également exposés sur les surfaces cellulaires respectives. De facon clairement opposée, chez le rat, les antigènes de classe I, 1 beta2m et de classe II étaient absents de l'endothélium vasculaire rénal des gros vaisseaux et des capillaires intertubulaires; cependant, de grandes quantités d'antigènes de classe II étaient visibles à l'intérieur des cellules tubulaires rénales proximales. L'essai Staphylocoque a indiqué qu'aucun ou très peu de ces antigènes étaient exposés à la surface des cellules parenchymateuses rénales. Ces différences pourraient expliquer pourquoi les greffons rénaux de rat sont relativement non immunogènes et facilement tolérés, alors que les receveurs de transplants rénaux humains doivent être immunodéprimés indéfiniment.

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