Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most frequently occurring types of chronic glomerulonephritis. Previous analyses have revealed that a major pathogen of dental caries, Streptococcus mutans [which expresses collagen-binding protein (Cnm) on its surface], is involved in the pathogenesis of IgAN. Methods: Cnm-positive S. mutans isolated from a patient with IgAN was intravenously administered to specific pathogen-free Sprague–Dawley rats to evaluate their kidney conditions. Results: The urinary protein level of the S. mutans group reached a plateau at 30 days, with increased numbers of mesangial cells and an increased mesangial matrix. The numbers of rats with IgA-positive and/or C3-positive glomeruli were significantly greater in the S. mutans group than in the control group at 45 days (P < 0.05). Electron microscopy analyses revealed electron-dense depositions in the mesangial area among rats in the S. mutans group. There were significantly more CD68-positive cells (macrophages) in the glomeruli of the S. mutans group than in the glomeruli of the control group during the late phase (P < 0.05), similar to the findings in patients with IgAN. Conclusion: Our results suggested that intravenous administration of Cnm-positive S. mutans caused transient induction of IgAN-like lesions in rats.
CITATION STYLE
Naka, S., Wato, K., Misaki, T., Ito, S., Nagasawa, Y., Nomura, R., … Nakano, K. (2020). Intravenous administration of Streptococcus mutans induces IgA nephropathy-like lesions. Clinical and Experimental Nephrology, 24(12), 1122–1131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-020-01961-1
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