[Distribution of interleukin-6 receptors (CD(126) and CD(w130)) on circulating lymphocytes in patients with lupus nephritis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution of IL-6 receptors (CD(126) and CD(w130)) on lymphocytes in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).


METHODS
The percentages of lymphocyte subsets were examined by direct two colour immunofluorescence on flow cytometry.


RESULTS
(1) In active and inactive cases, the percentages of CD(+)(4) cells obviously decreased as compared with the normal controls (P < 0.01). Increased numbers of CD(+)(8) cells could be detected in LN patients (P < 0.05), especially in active cases (P < 0.01). Lymphocytes of active cases contained significantly greater percentage of CD(+)(23) cells than those of normal subjects (P < 0.05). On the contrary, the percentage of CD(+)(23) cells was statistically lower in the inactive cases than in normal subjects (P < 0.01). No significant difference in the percentages of CD(+)(126) and CD(+)(w130) cells was observed among the active, inactive and healthy groups (P > 0.05); (2) The proportion of CD(+)(4) CD(+)(126) and CD(+)(4) CD(+)(w130) cells in total lymphocytes was significantly lower in the active than in the inactive ones or normal subjects (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), whereas that of CD(+)(8) CD(+)(126) and CD(+)(8) CD(+)(w130) cells was not different among the active, inactive and normal subjects (P > 0.05). The proportion of CD(+)(23) CD(+)(126) cells and CD(+)(23) CD(+)(w130) cells augmented significantly in the active (P < 0.05), whereas it lessened in the inactive without statistical meaning as compared with the normal subjects (P > 0.05). (3) There was a positive correlation between the percentage of CD(+)(23) CD(+)(126) cells and that of CD(+)(23) CD(+)(w130) cells in total lymphocytes in the active group (r = 0.756, P < 0.05). However, no correlation between the percentage of CD(+)(23) CD(+)(126) cells and that of CD(+)(23) CD(+)(w130) cells in total lymphocytes was found in the inactive (r = 0.376, P > 0.05) or normal group (r = 0.256, P > 0.05); (4) The fraction of CD(+)(23) cells expressing CD(126) and CD(w130) was related to the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and lymphopenia (P < 0.05, P < 0.005). But it was neither associated with the number of damaged organs and the degree of damage, not with that of ANA, anti-dsDNA antibody and complements (C(3) and C(4)) (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
LN patients present not only B cell hyperactivity but also T cell abnormality. In active cases, there is abnormal distribution of IL-6 receptors on lymphocytes: reduced CD(126) and CD(w130) expression on CD(+)(4) cells and elevated CD(126) and CD(w130) expression on CD(+)(23) cells. Detecting the proportion of CD(+)(23) CD(+)(126) cells or CD(+)(23) CD(+)(w130) cells in total lymphocytes may serve as one of activity indexes for LN patients.
Zeng
L
L
Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Sun
L
L
Ye
R
R
Xu
H
H
Yu
X
X
Kong
Q
Q
Zhou
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*
D015703:Antigens, CD; C494199:IL6ST protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130