Subpopulations of T alpha cells in patients with IgA nephropathy: correlation between T alpha 4 cells and in vitro IgA production.
T cells play important roles in the regulation of the immune system and are divided into subpopulations by various kinds of markers on the membrane surface. T cells with Fc-receptors for IgA are termed T alpha cells, and the properties of this cell population have been revealed in recent years. T alpha cells are increased in patients with IgA nephropathy and possess IgA specific helper activity. T alpha cells consist of two subpopulations, T alpha cells with OKT4 antigen (T alpha 4 cells) and with OKT8 antigen (T alpha 8 cells). To investigate the immunological aberrations in patients with IgA nephropathy, we detected immunoglobulin produced by peripheral blood lymphocytes and enumerated the numbers of T alpha cells (including both T alpha 4 and T alpha 8 cells). The numbers of T alpha 4 cells (but not T alpha 8 cells) and in vitro IgA production were increased in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgA nephropathy, mean 1.9%. Control, mean 0.8%. P = 0.0075). In addition, the numbers of T alpha 4 cells and the amount of IgA in the supernatant of lymphocyte cultures were positively correlated in these patients (P = 0.025. r = 0.3836). From the results in the present study, it was suggested that T alpha 4 cells might be related to immunological aberrations, such as an increase in IgA seen in patients with IgA nephropathy.
Yasumoto
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Tokai University, Kanagawa Ken, Japan.
Suga
T
T
Miura
M
M
Endoh
M
M
Nomoto
H
H
Tomino
Y
Y
Nomoto
Y
Y
Sakai
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D011961:Receptors, Fc / Q000032:analysis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C036832:Fc(alpha) receptor; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D011961:Receptors, Fc