title: Immunoregulation in glomerulonephritis, Henoch--Schonlein purpura and lupus nephritis.
abstract: Immunoregulation was examined in normal controls and in patients with immune complex glomerulonephritis and lupus nephritis (SLE) using OKT monoclonal anti-bodies against helper (OKT4) and suppressor (OKT8) T cell subsets. Functional studies assessed T cell control of in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis by cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). IgG and IgA synthesis was measured in unstimulated, pokeweed mitogen (PWM) stimulated and PWM + concanavalin A (Con A) stimulated cultures. Patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) and mesangial IgA nephropathy (IgA GN) were found to have elevated T4/T8 ratios secondary to a deficiency of the T8+ subset. Patients with SLE had low T4/T8 ratios. B cell activation with high spontaneous immunoglobulin synthesis was present in cell cultures from patients with SLE, IgA GN and Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). Defective Con A inducible suppression of in vitro immunoglobulin synthesis was found in SLE, HSP and to a lesser extent, primary MN. Functional Con A inducible suppressor defects correlated with elevated T4/T8 ratios only in patients with MN. All four disorders appear to share disturbances of cellular immune response with various degrees of defective immune suppression; however, it is not clear from these studies whether the defects are primary or secondary phenomena.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009393:Nephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G