Antibodies in guinea-pigs immunized with kidney and lung basement membranes.

The cross-reaction of antibodies to tubular basement membrane (TBM) with alveolar basement membrane (ABM) has been studied in guinea-pigs with tubulointerstitial (TI) nephritis. Forty-three of fifty-two Hartley guinea-pigs immunized with rabbit TBM in complete Freund's adjuvant developed TI nephritis. In addition to linear deposits of guinea-pig IgG and C3 in the TBM, thirty-two of the nephritic animals showed linear immune deposits in ABM; twelve of these animals had thickened alveolar septa and increased numbers of polymorphonuclear (PMN) leucocytes in lung tissue. Sera and eluates of kidney and lung from nephritic guinea-pigs reacted strongly with TBM and more weakly with ABM of normal animals. Absorption experiments suggested that antibodies to TBM and ABM were closely related or identical. Only a minority of guinea pigs immunized with TBM showed binding of IgG to glomerular basement membrane (GBM). Immunization of guinea-pigs with lung-homogenate-induced antibodies binding to TBM and ABM (in approximately 45% of animals) and to GBM (in approximately 30% of animals). Immunization with crude GBM-induced antibodies which reacted preferentially with TBM and ABM. In contrast, collagenase-treated GBM-induced antibodies preferentially reactive with GBM. TI nephritis was induced in both Strain 13 and Strain 2 guinea-pigs, but the nephropathy developed much faster in Strain 13 animals. Immunization with rabbit TBM-induced antibodies reactive with ABM in 25% of Strain 13 guinea-pigs and in 50% of Strain 2 guinea-pigs, respectively.