title: B and T cell abnormalities in patients with primary IgA nephropathy.
abstract: The in vitro function of B and T cells was studied in 16 patients with primary IgA nephropathy (PIgA-N). The distribution of OKT3+ cells (total peripheral T cells) and of regulatory T cell subsets (helper OKT4+ and cytotoxic/suppressor OKT8+ cells) was evaluated and a testing for 47 HLA-A, B, C, DR, and DQ antigens was carried out in the 16. B lymphocyte IgA production, after stimulation by pokeweed mitogen in the presence of T cells from normal donors treated with mitomycin C, was significantly greater in patients than in controls. T lymphocytes from patients with PIgA-N were more efficient than T cells from controls in providing IgA specific helper activity for normal B cells. The analysis of the individual data showed that the overactivity of B cells and the T cell operational dysfunction was present in about 50% of the patients and did not correlate. No numerical imbalance between T lymphocyte subsets nor any association between lymphocyte behavior, HLA antigen distribution, and a number of clinical, laboratory, and immunohistological findings was observed. Our data, therefore, suggest that PIgA-N is an immunologically heterogeneous disease and that an IgA-specific B cell overactivity and/or overall IgA-specific T cell helper activity may be present in some patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000276:immunology*; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D006680:HLA Antigens