T cell subset alterations in idiopathic glomerulonephritis
Cagnoli, L.; Tabacchi, P.; Pasquali, S.; Cenci, M.; Sasdelli, M.; Zucchelli, P.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology 50(1): 70-76
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9104 PMID: 6217003 Document Number: 194436
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 15 healthy controls and 59 patients with idiopathic glomerulonephritis were studied to determine whether an imbalance exists among human T cell subsets in these diseases. Of the patients studied 20 had a minimal change nephropathy (10 with nephrotic syndrome and 10 in sustained remission); 27 had a membranous glomerulonephritis (12 with nephrotic syndrome, 6 with isolated proteinuria and 9 in complete remission); 12 patients had an IgA glomerulonephritis with hematuria and mild proteinuria. Monoclonal antibodies directed at human T lymphocyte subsets termed OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8 were used in an indirect immunofluorescence assay in all cases. Patients with minimal change nephropathy, with or without nephrotic syndrome and patients with IgA glomerulonephritis showed mean values of OKT3+ cells (total peripheral T cells), helper OKT4+ cells, suppressor OKT8+ cells and OKT4+/OKT8+ cell ratio, in the normal range. Only the group of patients with membranous glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome presented a mean OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio greater than the normal group (percentages: 2.43 .+-. 0.3 vs. 1.6 .+-. 0.1 SEM ; P < 0.02). This increased ratio was due to a reduction in the OKT8+ cell subset compared to the healthy subjects (percentages: 27.6 .+-. 2.9 vs. 36.8 .+-. 1.4 SEM; P < 0.01). The functional lymphocyte disorders described in minimal change neprhopathy and IgA glomerulonephritis are not due to a numerical imbalance of lymphocyte subsets. Such an imbalance of lymphocyte subsets was specifically observed in membranous glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome.