Adult worm antigen (AWA) and soluble egg antigen (SEA) were localized ultrastructurally by immunoelectron microscopy using two monoclonal antibodies in the glomeruli of hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae or injected with S. mansoni eggs. AWA was detected in all cercaria-infected groups from the 30th day on and was present mainly in cytoplasm of mesangial cells, mesangial matrix, and glomerular basement membrane, either as isolated gold particles or in small electron-dense deposits of probable immune origin. AWA was encountered also on the inner side of the glomerular basal membrane, close to endothelial cells, and in the foot processes of the glomerular epithelial cells. SEA was detected at similar sites, apparently in lesser amounts, in uninfected hamsters inoculated with S. mansoni eggs into the jugular vein. Schistosomal antigens are apparently processed mainly by mesangial cells which are considered to be critical in the pathogenesis of S. mansoni associated glomerulopathy. Mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis, immunoglobulin (IgG and IgM), and C3 deposits were observed in hamsters in which AWA and SEA were visualized. During early phases of the infection and in hamsters in which granulomatous pneumonitis was induced by S. mansoni eggs, glomeruli were unchanged or showed a slight mesangial proliferation. Our findings suggests that egg antigens also contribute to the pathogenesis of experimental glomerulopathy in the hamster.

Keywords:
Schistosoma mansoni antigens, Immunoelectron microscopy, Hamster schistosomal nephropathy
1.
Van Velthuysen MLF: Glomerulopathy associated with parasitic infections. Parasitol Today 1996;12:102–107.
2.
Natali PG, Cioli D: Immune complex nephritis in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. Eur J Immunol 1996;6:359–364.
3.
Falcão H, Gould DB: Immune complex nephropathy in schistosomiasis. Ann Intern Med 1975;83:148–154.
4.
Hoshino-Shimizu S, De Brito T, Kanamura H, Canto AL, Silva AO, Campos AR, Penna DO, Silva LC: Human schistosomiasis: S. mansoni antigen detection in renal glomeruli. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 1976;70:492–496.
5.
Moriearty PL, Brito E: Elution of renal antischistosome antibodies in human schistosomiasis mansoni. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1977;26:717–722.
6.
Sobh MA, Moustafa FE, El Housseini F, Basta MT, Deelder AM, Ghoneim MA: Schistosomal specific nephropathy leading to end-stage renal failure. Kidney Int 1987;31:1006–1011.
7.
De Water R, Van Marck EAE, Franzen JAM, Deelder AM: Schistosoma mansoni: Ultrastructural localization of the circulating anodic antigen and the circulating cathodic antigen in the mouse kidney glomerulus. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1988;38:118–124.
8.
Hillyer GV, Lewert RM: Studies on renal pathology in hamsters infected with Schistosoma mansoni and S. japonicum. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1974;23:404–411.
9.
Sobh M, Moustafa F, Ramzy R, Saad M, Deelder A, Ghoneim M: Schistosoma mansoni nephropathy in Syrian golden hamsters: Effect of dose and duration of infection. Nephron 1991;59:121–130.
10.
Sobh M, Moustafa F, Hamid S, Ghoneim M: Infectious glomerulopathy induced by a defined agent (Schistosoma mansoni): Progression despite early elimination of the causal agent. Exp Nephrol 1993;1:261–264.
11.
Hoffman EO, Flores TR, Coover J, Garrett HE: Polychrome stains for high resolution light microscopy. Lab Med 1983;14:779–781.
12.
Carneiro CRW, Lopes JO: Surface antigen detected by S. mansoni monoclonal antibody in worm extracts and kidney deposits of infected mice and hamsters. Infect Immun 1986;52:230–235.
13.
Nakhle MC, Carneiro CRW: Schistosoma mansoni: Description of a potentially useful monoclonal antibody that recognizes soluble egg antigen (SEA). Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1997;39:353–354.
14.
Kanamura HY, Hoshino-Shimizu S, Silva LC: Solubilization of antigens of S. mansoni adult worms for the passive hemagglutination test: Preliminary report. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1981;23:92–95.
15.
Timms BG: Postembedding immunogold labeling for electron microscopy using ‘L.R. White’ resin. Am J Anat 1986;175:267–275.
16.
Berryman MA, Rodewald RO: An enhanced method for postembedding immunocytochemical staining which preserves cell membranes. J Histochem Cytochem 1990;35:159–170.
17.
Bouvet JP, Pires R, Pillot J: A modified gel filtration technique producing an unusual exclusion volume of IgM: A simple way of preparing monoclonal IgM. J Immunol Methods 1984;66:299–305.
18.
Clark HF, Shepard LL: A dialysis technique for preparing fluorescent antibody. Virology 1963;20:642–644.
19.
Laurenti MD, Corbett CEP, Sotto MN, Sinhorini IL, Goto H: The role of complement in the acute inflammatory process in the skin and in host-parasite interaction in hamsters inoculated with Leishmania chagasi. Int J Exp Pathol 1996;77:15–24.
20.
Von Lichtenberg F: Host response to eggs of S. mansoni. 1. Granuloma formation in the unsensitized laboratory mouse. Am J Pathol 1962;41:711–731.
21.
Houba V, Sturrock RF, Butterworth AE: Kidney lesions in baboons infected with S. mansoni. Clin Exp Immunol 1977;30:439–449.
22.
Houba V: Experimental renal disease due to schistosomiasis. Kidney Int 1979;16:30–43.
23.
Andrade ZA, Queiroz AC: Lesões renais na esquistossomose hepática esplênica. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1968;10:36–40.
24.
Silva LC, De Brito T, Camargo ME, De Boni DR, Lópes JD, Gunji J: Kidney biopsy in the hepatosplenic form of infection with S. mansoni in man. Bull WHO 1970;42:907–910.
25.
Andrade ZA, Andrade SG, Sadigursky M: Renal changes in patients with hepatosplenic schistosomiasis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1971;20:77–83.
26.
Andrade ZA, Van Marck EAE: Schistosomal glomerular disease: A review. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 1984;79:499–506.
27.
Sobh M, Moustafa A, El-Arbagy M, Shebab El-Din S, Shamaa S, Amer G: Nephropathy in asymptomatic patients with active Schistosoma mansoni infection. Int Urol Nephrol 1990;22:37–43.
28.
Couser WG: Mechanisms of glomerular injury in immune-complex disease. Kidney Int 1985;28:569–583.
29.
Ostendorf T, Burg M, Floege J: Cytokines and glomerular injury. Kidney Blood Press Res 1996;19:281–289.
30.
De Brito T, Gungi I, Camargo ME, Penna DO, Silva LC: Advanced kidney disease in patients with hepatosplenic Manson’s schistosomiasis. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1970;12:225–235.
31.
Abensur H, Nussenzveig I, Saldanha LB, Pestalozzi MSC, Barros MT, Marcondes M, Barros RT: Nephrotic syndrome associated with hepatointestinal schistosomiasis. Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo 1992;34:273–276.
32.
Barsoum RS: Schistosomal glomerulopathies. Kidney Int 1993;44:1–12.
1998
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.