Decrease of IgA-specific suppressor T cell activity in patients with IgA nephropathy.

  • 1 November 1979
    • journal article
    • Vol. 38  (2) , 243-8
Abstract
The activity of IgA-specific suppressor T cells was lower in eight patients with IgA nephropathy than in six patients with chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis without glomerular deposition of IgA, two patients with acute glomerulonephritis, or five healthy adult controls. It was determined by the quantitation of immunoglobulins produced from pokeweed mitogen-stimulated B cells cultured with the T cell supernatant (TCS) obtained from concanavalin A-stimulated T cells. Results from a study on an identical twin sister with IgA nephropathy suggested that the decreased activity of IgA-specific suppressor T cells might not be a cause but a result of increased IgA-bearing lymphocytes and serum IgA in patients with IgA nephropathy.