Predominance of IgA deposits in glomeruli of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

We found that IgA is predominant among the immune deposits in the renal glomeruli of mice infected with Schistosoma mansoni, and thus conducted an analysis of the deposition of different immunoglobulin isotypes in the glomeruli throughout the course of infection in mice. Both immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase methodologies were employed and compared. The abundance of S. mansoni antigens and the isotypes of antibodies to these antigens were examined in the sera and kidney eluates of mice during the course of infection and the results were related to the findings of immunohistopathology. Our observations suggest that at least some immune complexes form in situ in the glomeruli of infected mice and support a possible role of liver damage in the pathogenesis of renal disease in schistosomiasis. Intestinal mucosal immune responses to schistosome antigens may be important in the evolution of renal disease. In addition, the relevance of the murine model to human schistosomal nephropathy is questioned.