The origin of Ia antigen-expressing cells in the rat kidney.

The lineage of Ia antigen expressing (Ia+) cells that have been detected in the parenchyma and interstitium of the rat kidney has not been defined. The authors have studied the origins of Ia+ cells in chimeric rats using monoclonal antibodies to define cells of bone marrow and parenchymal origin. PVGc RTI rats (recipients) received intravenously 2 X 10(6) bone marrow cells from F1 hybrid PVG RTIc/RTIu rats (donors) 1 day after 1000 rads whole body irradiation. Ia chimerism was monitored in blood and isolated glomeruli by immunofluorescence and in frozen sections by immunoperoxidase, using monoclonal antibodies MRC OX3 (anti-Ia RTIu), MRC OX4 (anti-RTIc and u), and MRC OXI (anti-rat leukocyte common antigen). In normal F1 hybrid kidneys, glomerular cell counts were as follows: OXI+, 7.19 +/- 0.23/gl; OX4+, 3.03 +/- 0.14; OX3+, 2.34 +/- 0.1 (76% detectable expression of RTIu). OXI+, OX4+, and OX3+ cells were codistributed in cells in the interstitium between renal tubules. Proximal tubules were weakly OX4+, OX3+. In chimeric rats 5 days after irradiation, blood leukocytes, and renal OX1+ and OX4+ cells were depleted; OX3+ cells were not detected; by 4 weeks blood leukocytes were restored to normal numbers, and 85% of Ia+ cells were OX3+. By 6 weeks OXI+ and OX4+ cells were restored in glomeruli and interstitium, with increasing expression of OX3+ cells; at 10 weeks 75% of glomerular Ia+ cells were OX3+ (equivalent to detectable level of OX3+ cells in normal F1 hybrids) and OX1+, OX4+, and OX3+ cells appeared in equivalent numbers in the interstitium. Groups of proximal tubules were OX4+ and OX3-. These results in established bone marrow chimeras show that in the normal rat kidney bone marrow derived leukocytes expressing Ia antigen are present in the glomerulus and interstitium. Ia antigen is also expressed on some proximal tubular cells. There is no evidence for endothelial Ia positivity.