Poster Presenter

Stereological Analysis of single Application of OX7-Immunoliposomes loaded with low-dose MMF reduced Mesangial Cell Proliferation, Volume of Extra Cellular Matrix and Glomeruli per Kidney in Experimental Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis
Angela Suana, Gérald Tuffin, Brigitte M. Frey and Hans-Peter Marti
Switzerland

We evaluated mycophenolate mofetil (MMF)-containing OX7-IL (Tuffin G, JASN, 2005) in anti-Thy1.1 nephritis.

Low dose MMF was incorporated into OX7-IL (1.37 ug/kg bw) using pH insensitve pegylated unilamellar IL. Nephritis was induced by a single iv. injection of OX7 antibodies (1mg/kg bw) at day 0.

Male Wistar rats were divided as follows: Group A (n=6): healthy rats, group B (n=18): nephritic rats, group C (n=18): nephritic rats treated with empty OX7-IL (1.8 umol lipids/ml with 5umol/kg bw), group D (n=18): nephritic rats treated with MMF-containing OX7-IL (MMF: 1.37 ug/kg bw), and group E (n=18): nephritic rats treated with free MMF (MMF: 1.37 ug/kg bw). Treatments of groups C-E were administered by single iv injection (180 ul) at day +2.

As analyzed by stereology of perfused kidneys, MMF-loaded IL-OX7 of group D decreased MC proliferation, compared to other nephritic groups B and E (p<0.001; Dunnett's multiple comparison) and reduced the volume of ECM per kidney significantly on d +9 compared to group B. The volume of the glomeruli per kidney increased through out the disease which was reduced in group D compared to group B. Albuminuria in group D almost completely disappeared.

Therefore, anti-Thy1.1 nephritis was successfully attenuated by MMF-containing OX7-IL.