Immunologically induced tubulo-interstitial nephritis: experimental models in rats.

Experimental models of immunologically induced tubulo-interstitial nephritis (TIN) in rats are described. Antitubular basement membrane (anti-TBM) nephritis was demonstrated to be a TIN resulting from an antigen antibody reaction. Renal transplant rejection and the local graft-vs-host (GVH) reaction were cell-mediated immune reactions in which the antigen was possibly shared by kidney structures. A cellular immune reaction to locally applied antigens was shown to be the basis for another experimental model of TIN, possibly originating from activated mediator systems.