[Effects of dexamethasone on CTLA-4 expression and apoptosis in lymphocytes obtained from children with mesangial proliferative nephritis].
OBJECTIVE
The pathogenesis of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) and mechanisms of glucocorticoid (GC) resistance have not been fully identified. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an important inhibitor of T-lymphocyte activation. The objective of the study is to investigate the CTLA-4 expression and apoptosis in lymphocytes of children with MsPGN and the effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the CTLA-4 expression and apoptosis.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from 36 children with MsPGN and 30 healthy children. CTLA-4 expression in in vitro cultured lymphocytes with or without Dex treatment was measured by flow cytometry following direct immune fluorescene. The rate of apoptosis in the lymphocytes was evaluated by annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide staining.


RESULTS
The CTLA-4 expression and apoptosis in lymphocytes from children with MsPGN were significantly lower than those in the healthy control children in the absence or presence of Dex treatment (p<0.05). There was a positive correlation between CTLA-4 expression and apoptosis in lymphocytes (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Abnormal CTLA-4 expression may participate in the pathogenesis of MsPGN and be one of mechanisms of GC resistance.
Wang
Feng-Ying
FY
Department of Pediatrics, Tai'an City Central Hospital, Tai'an, Shangdong 271000, China. wfy6699@163.com
Lu
Si-Guang
SG
Luo
Rong-Hua
RH
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D002648:Child; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015432:Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male
D015703:Antigens, CD; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D003907:Dexamethasone