Participation of V beta 4(+)-, V beta 7(+)-, and V beta 11(+)-T lymphocytes in haematogenously acquired Staphylococcus aureus nephritis.

The most frequent pathogen in haematogenously acquired kidney infections in humans in Staphylococcus aureus. In order to characterize in situ the immunological patterns of septic nephritis we developed a murine model of this disease. A single intravenous injection of S. aureus producing toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 resulted in high frequency of inflammatory kidney lesions. Histopathologically, both focal and diffuse inflammatory infiltrates were seen in kidney cortex and medulla. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed high numbers of Mac-1+ phagocytic cells as well as CD4(+)-and CD8(+)-lymphocytes. The expansion of lymphocytes carrying T-cell receptor V beta chain 4, 7, and 11 families in the kidney was observed. Our results suggest that the haematogenously acquired kidney infection by superantigen-producing staphylococci leads to migration, in situ activation and expansion of responding T-lymphocyte subsets.