Glomerular crescent-related biomarkers in a murine model of chronic graft versus host disease.

Background: We examined the alterations in gene expression associated with the development of crescentic glomerulonephritis in murine chronic graft-versus-host disease, a model for human systemic lupus erythematosus.

Methods: The disease was induced in (C57BL/6 x DBA/2) F(1) hybrids by injection of DBA/2 lymphocytes leading to deposition of auto-antibodies in the glomeruli, and a lupus type of nephritis morphologically. After extensive crescent formation at week 9 of disease, cDNA microarray analysis was performed and highly expressed genes were evaluated as molecular markers by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and immunoassay of urine proteins.