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- Title
Immunohistochemical and serological evidence for the role of streptococcal proteinase in acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
- Authors
Cu, Gil A.; Mezzano, Sergio; Bannan, Jason D.; Zabriskie, John B.
- Abstract
Immunohistochemical and serological evidence for the role of streptococcal proteinase in acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Background. We have previously demonstrated the preferential secretion of streptococcal proteinase or streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SPEB) by nephritic strains of Group A streptococci isolated from the skin or throat of patients with acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). Methods. To further explore the possible role of SPEB in APSGN, we performed ELISA studies to detect anti-SPEB antibodies in the sera of patients with APSGN, acute rheumatic fever (ARF), scarlet fever (SF) and normal children. Using ELISA, anti-SPEB titers on acute and convalescent APSGN sera were measured to determine immunity to APSGN. We also performed immunofluorescence studies on APSGN and non-APSGN kidney biopsies to probe for the presence and localization of SPEB. Results. Our data show that anti-SPEB antibodies are present in APSGN sera and antibody titers are significantly higher than in ARF, SF and normal sera. Anti-SPEB titers tend to rise acutely and decrease with time but do not reach baseline after one year. When kidney biopsies were probed with rabbit anti-SPEB antibody, 12 of 18 (67%) of the APSGN cases were positive while only 4 of 25 (16%) of the non-APSGN cases were positive. Conclusions. In summary, we were able to demonstrate unique reactivity to SPEB in human sera and kidney biopsies of APSGN suggesting a significant role of this toxin in the pathogenesis of acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
- Subjects
PROTEINASES; GLOMERULONEPHRITIS; ANTIGENS
- Publication
Kidney International, 1998, Vol 54, Issue 3, p819
- ISSN
0085-2538
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1046/j.1523-1755.1998.00052.x