In vivo antibody response to mucosal (NASAL) and subcutaneous stimulation of influenza virus in patients with IgA nephropathy.

Anomalies in the production of antibodies have been postulated in the development of IgA nephropathy. In order to study the aberrant immune response in patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN), an influenza virus vaccine was administered to healthy adults and patients with IgAN to demonstrate if there was any in vivo alteration in the antibody production to mucosal and non-mucosal antigenic stimulation in these groups. The vaccine was administered subcutaneously (s.c) or intranasally at a dose of 350 CCA or 1,050 CCA at an interval of 4 weeks, respectively. IgG, IgA, IgM class antibodies to influenza virus were determined using the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subcutaneous stimulation induced IgM antibody response in both groups. However, positive response to nasal stimulation was observed only in the patient group. Serum IgA and IgM responses in the patient group were significantly higher than those in the control group. These data suggested that patients with IgA nephropathy showed higher antibody response to mucosal stimulation than healthy controls.