Role of superoxide in pyelonephritis

Abstract

The role of superoxide in scar formation following renal infection caused by mannose-sensitive (MS) -piliated strains of bacteria was studied in the experimental pyclonephritis model using female Sprague-Dawley rats. The MS-piliated strain stimulated renal scarring to a significantly greater extent than either the non-piliated or mannose-resistant (MR) -piliated strains. Modification of leukocytes by administering cyclophosphamide to induce neutropenia and colchicine to inhibit leukocyte migration was effective in preventing renal scarring. Treatment with superoxide dismutase during the early stage of infection was also effective in preventing scar formation. Finally, the production of superoxide following stimulation by MS-piliated strain was larger amount than it following stimulation by either non-piliated or MR-piliated strains.
These observations suggest that superoxide released from leukocytes plays an important role in the development of renal scarring following infection by MS-piliated strains.