Aberration of B and T cell subsets in patients with IgA nephropathy and membranous nephropathy.
Peripheral blood lymphocytes from 15 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 10 patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) and 15 healthy adults were examined to investigate whether there are any aberrations in B and T cell subsets in these diseases. F (ab')2 portions of heavy chain specific anti human IgG, IgA and IgM antibodies were used to determine isotypes of B lymphocytes, and monoclonal antibodies directed at human T cells termed OKT3, OKT4 and OKT8 antibodies were used to assay subsets of T cells. Quantitation of B and T cell subsets was performed by flow cytometry. IgG, IgA and IgM bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes were significantly increased in patients with both IgAN and MN, although the dominant class of immunoglobulin bearing cells in patients with IgAN was IgA bearing cells and that in patients with MN was IgM bearing cells. OKT4 positive (OKT4+) and OKT8 positive (OKT8+) cells were significantly decreased in both patient groups. The OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio increased only in MN patients without steroid therapy. It was suggested that aberrations of B and T cell subsets are common in both diseases.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification*
D003176:Complement C3; D007136:Immunoglobulins