Reduced Incidence of Slowly Progressive Heymann Nephritis in Rats Immunized With a Modified Vaccination Technique

Abstract

A slowly progressive Heymann nephritis (SPHN) was induced in three groups of rats by weekly injections of a chemically modified renal tubular antigen in an aqueous medium. A control group of rats received the chemically unmodified version of the antigen in an aqueous solution. One group of SPHN rats were pre- and post-treated with weekly injections of IC made up of rKF3 and rarKF3 IgM antibody at antigen excess (MIC) (immune complexes [ICs] containing sonicated ultracentrifuged [u/c] rat kidney fraction 3 [rKF3] antigen and IgM antibodies specific against the antigen, at slight antigen excess). One group of SPHN rats were post-treated with MIC 3 weeks after the induction of the disease and one group of SPHN animals received no treatment. The control group of rats received pre- and post-treatment with sonicated u/c rKF3. The incidence of immune-complex glomerulonephritis (ICGN) in the untreated SPHN rats was 87%, in the pre- and post-treated animals 13%, and in the post-treated-only rats 20%. Rats receiving sonicated ultracentrifuged rKF3 antigen did not develop ICGN. The present experiment demonstrates that the development of SPHN can be not only prevented but also effectively terminated by our newly developed modified vaccination technique.

Four Aspects of Autoimmunity and How to Regain Tolerance to Self From an Autoimmune Disease Utilizing the Modified Vaccination Technique

“…Our MVT, which involves the administration of IC formed with condition-specific components that initiate and maintain a predetermined immune response, has the potential to prevent chronic ailments, and to cure already present diseases (Barabas et al, 2004b;Barabas et al, 2006c;Barabas et al, 2006b;Barabas et al, 2009a). This is the first time that the promise has existed to prevent, treat, and cure endogenous ag induced mishaps in humans specifically and without side effects.…”

“…These cross-reactive specific IgM aabs are greatly responsible for the maintenance of tolerance to self during life by efficiently clearing the system of native and modified aags. If they can effectively clear the system of both native and modified aags during an autoimmune disease, then remission will occur, as manifested in signs of improvement and diminished symptoms (Barabas et al, 2004b;Barabas et al, 2006c;Barabas et al, 2006b;Barabas & Lafreniere, 2005). If the stimulus agent -that produces the modified self -ceases to be present in the system then spontaneous remission and termination of the autoimmune disease process will follow.…”

“…We have conducted several recent experiments in this area, and have observed through these experiments that corrective immune responses can in fact be initiated by providing the right "information" to the cells of the autoimmune system. We have shown that with a vaccination technique that induces a predetermined immune response, autoimmune diseases can not only be prevented, but also, when present, terminated (Barabas et al, 2004b;Barabas et al, 2006c;Barabas et al, 2006b). …”

“…However, the possibility of using vaccination to achieve protective or curative outcomes in patients with disorders caused by endogenous ags, without causing side effects, has remained elusive (Ben Yehuda et al, 1988;Fox & McCune, 1994;Golbus & McCune, 1994;Hu et al, 2009;Nepom, 2002;Perosa et al, 2005;Thaiss et al, 1989). Our investigations into the etiology and pathogenesis of an experimental autoimmune kidney disease have resulted in a new immunological approach involving the presentation of native autoimmune disease related ags to evoke a predetermined corrective immune response in the host (Barabas et al, 2004b;Barabas et al, 2006c;Barabas et al, 2006b;Barabas & Lafreniere, 2005). The approach consists of a new vaccination method called modified vaccination technique (MVT) (Barabas et al, 2007b;Barabas et al, 2007a;Barabas et al, 2008a;Barabas et al, 2009a;Barabas et al, 2009b).…”

“…The MVT involves the injection of a mixture of antibody (ab) inducing components which are predetermined based on the required outcome. So far the MVT has been implemented:  to prevent an experimental autoimmune kidney disease, and to terminate the already present disease (Barabas et al, 2004b;Barabas et al, 2006c;Barabas et al, 2006b;Barabas & Lafreniere, 2005); and  to achieve a powerful immune response against an exogenous ag ( Barabas et al, 2007d); Below we give a detailed account of how and why the MVT has the potential of specifically preventing and curing certain chronic disorders such as autoimmune disease and disease caused by chronic infection.…”