Open AccessIncrease of both circulating Th1 and Th2 T lymphocyte subsets in IgA nephropathy
Author(s) -
LAI K. N.,
HO R. T. H.,
LAI C. K. W.,
CHAN C. H. S.,
LI P. K. T.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1994.tb06240.x
Subject(s) - nephropathy , immunology , cytokine , messenger rna , biology , housekeeping gene , interleukin 4 , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , interferon gamma , t lymphocyte , gene expression , immune system , endocrinology , gene , biochemistry , diabetes mellitus
SUMMARY IgA nephropathy (IgAN), characterized by glomerular deposition of IgA and frequently elevated plasma IgA levels, has increased T helper cell activity. In vitro measurement of cytokines in supernatant of cultured peripheral lymphocytes revealed conflicting findings. We examined the profile of cytokine mRNA expressed in purified CD4 + cells in patients with IgAN in order to study their pattern of Th1 (releases IL‐2 and interferon‐gamma (IFN‐γ)) and Th2 (releases IL‐4 and IL‐5) T cell response. We assessed the circulating CD4 + T cells in patients and normal controls by the expression of messenger RNA (mRNA) for IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5 and IFN‐γ. The cytokine mRNAs were analysed with reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction and were measured semiquantitatively by using a housekeeping gene, β‐actin. Compared with the control subjects, CD4 + T lymphocytes from patients with IgAN expressed a higher level of IL‐2 mRNA (p=0.007), IFN‐γ mRNA (P = 0.04), IL‐4 mRNA (p = 0.048), and IL‐5 mRNA (P=0.016). Within these patients with IgAN, a good correlation was demonstrated between the gene expression of cytokines in Th1 or Th2 cells. The IL‐2 mRNA levels in Th1 cells from these patients with IgAN also correlated significantly with the IL‐4 or IL‐5 mRNA levels in their Th2 cells. Our study revealed IgAN is associated with activation in circulating lymphocytes of the IL‐2, IFN‐γ, IL‐4 and IL‐5 gene cluster, a pattern compatible with activation of both the Th1‐ and Th2‐like T lymphocyte population. The increased transcription of these cytokine genes may be contributory to the immunopathologic findings in IgAN.