Figure 7.

IL-17A gene deficiency rescues NGAL^−/− chimeric mice from aggravated NCGN. (A) Experimental scheme for the induction of anti-MPO induced NCGN in WT, NGAL^−/−, and IL-17A^−/−/MPO^−/− chimeric mice. MPO-immunized MPO^−/− mice were irradiated and transplanted with either WT or NGAL-deficient (NGAL^−/−) BM. Murine MPO-immunized IL-17A^−/−/MPO^−/− mice were irradiated and transplanted with NGAL^−/−/IL-17A^−/− BM. All chimeric mice were analyzed 7–8 weeks after transplantation. (B) Representative image of kidney sections stained with Periodic acid–Schiff at low (20×) and high (40×) magnification. Glomeruli with crescents and necrosis were increased in NGAL^−/− chimeric mice compared with WT chimeric mice and reduced in the NGAL^−/−/IL-17A^−/− chimeric mice. (C) Leukocyturia (Leuk), proteinuria (Prot), and erythrocyturia (Ery) were measured in urine by dipstick. (D) Albuminuria was quantified by ELISA. (E) Serum and urinary NGAL levels were measured by ELISA. (F) Renal influx of neutrophils, classic monocytes (CM), and CD4⁺ T cells was increased in NGAL^−/− chimeric mice compared with WT mice and reduced in the NGAL^−/−/IL-17A^−/− mice. Immune cells were identified using specific markers by flow cytometry. Total number of neutrophils, CM, and CD4⁺ T cells per kidney are shown. *P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001.