Effect of cyclosporin A on autoimmune tubulointerstitial nephritis in the brown Norway rat.

Abstract

The effect of cyclosporin A (CyA) on the development of tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) in the brown Norway (BN) rat was assessed. All manifestations of TIN were prevented in rats by subcutaneously injected CyA (20 mg/kg/day). A short 7-day course of CyA beginning the day before immunization suppressed the primary and ongoing antibody response. In addition, delayed CyA treatment (starting on day 10 after immunization), when antibody response was established, drastically reduced the levels of serum anti-TBM IgG, and abrogated the interstitial inflammatory cell response, in spite of persistent kidney-bound TBM antibodies. These results indicate that CyA has a therapeutic effect on the BN rat model of TIN.