INCREASE OF IGA SPECIFIC HELPER T-ALPHA-CELLS IN PATIENTS WITH IGA NEPHROPATHY

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  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (1) , 77-82
Abstract
Patients with IgA nephropathy show an emergence of IgA dominant circulating immune complexes (CIC) and increased levels of serum IgA and/or IgA bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes. To elucidate immunological aberrations responsible for the increased IgA synthesis in such patients, quantitative and qualitative analysis was performed on T.alpha. cells identified as possessing IgA specific helper activity on human B cells. Methods employed to quantitate T.alpha. cells included a rosette formation of T cells with either bovine red cells coated with the IgA fraction of anti-bovine red cell antiserum or those coated with TNP [trinitrophenyl] and anti-TNP IgA antibody, and an analysis of T cells combined with fluorescein conjugated human IgA myeloma protein. T.alpha. cells were sorted by a fluorescence activated cell sorter and co-cultured with a B cell rich fraction to evaluate whether there is a qualitative difference in IgA specific helper activity between patients and healthy adults. T.alpha. cells were significantly increased in patients with IgA nephropathy while there were no significant changes in patients with chronic proliferative glomerulonephritis without mesangial deposition of IgA. There was no qualitative difference in IgA specific helper activity of T.alpha. cells between patients and healthy adults. Increased levels of T.alpha. cells in patients with IgA nephropathy may be responsible for increased synthesis of IgA in such patients.