Increased interleukin 6 mRNA expression by peripheral blood T cells from patients with IgA nephropathy.
We investigated interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA expression in peripheral blood T-cells obtained from 36 patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), 36 patients with other glomerulonephritides and 24 healthy age-matched controls. The majority of patients with IgAN had increased IL-6 mRNA expression by their T cells; no IL-6 mRNA was detected in T cells obtained from patients with other glomerulonephritides or normal controls. A positive correlation was noted between the IL-6 mRNA level and quantity of protein excretion in the urine, histopathological findings, and renal function. However, there was no significant correlation between IL-6 mRNA expression and the IgA-immune complex titer, serum IgA level or blood pressure. mRNA levels in T cells obtained from patients with grade III or IV renal histopathological findings were significantly higher than in those with grade I or II histopathology. In addition, mRNA levels in T cells obtained from patients with more than 1.0 g/day proteinuria were markedly higher than those with less than 1.0 g/day proteinuria. We also studied the clinical course of 11 patients with IgAN during hospitalization. The IL-6 mRNA levels in these patients decreased gradually, as did proteinuria, after treatment. These studies suggest that abnormally regulated IL-6 mRNA expression in peripheral blood T cells may be associated with disease activity in IgAN.
Nakamura
T
T
Department of Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Ebihara
I
I
Takahashi
T
T
Yamamoto
M
M
Tomino
Y
Y
Koide
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005923:Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009402:Nephrosis, Lipoid / Q000276:immunology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger