Abnormalities of immune regulation in patients with IgA mesangial glomerulonephritis (Berger's disease).
Regulation of the immune response was studied in 22 patients with IgA nephropathy. A significant increase in the IgA production by Pokeweed-stimulated peripheral mononuclear cells maintained in culture for seven days was observed. These patients had significantly less IgA suppressor cell activity, as assessed by the Concanavalin A-generated suppressor cell assay, than the normal controls. The fact that most of the patients studied had increased activity of helper T cells on IgA synthesis, together with an augmentation in the percentage of OKT4+ cells, suggest that the abnormalities in helper T cell function might be the primary defect in this nephropathy. The existence of similar alterations in some of the healthy relatives of the patients further supports a genetic basis for susceptibility to this disease.
D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A