Increased interleukin-12 release from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in nephrotic phase of minimal change nephrotic syndrome.

The pathogenesis of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) is still not clear. Several studies indicate that MCNS is a systemic disorder of cell-mediated immunity. IL-12 is a pleiotropic cytokine that is produced primarily by macrophage and plays a primary role in the induction of Th1-mediated immunity. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship of in vivo IL-12 levels in both sera and urine, and in vitro IL-12 production in stable or nephrotic clinical condition patients with MCNS. In vitro IL-12 production was detected from LPS-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) of 20 MCNS patients during nephrotic and remission stages, levels of sera and urinary IL-12 were measured by commercially available ELISA kits (R & D Systems, Minneapolis). The results showed sera IL-12 levels and LPS-stimulated IL-12 productions for PBMNCs were significantly increased as compared with those of normal controls and in remission stage. However, there was also statistical difference of urinary IL-12 levels among MCNS patients during nephrotic and remission stage and controls. This study demonstrates a correlation between in vitro IL-12 release by PBMNCs and in vivo sera IL-12 level from MCNS patients as well as correlation with disease activity. The study contributes to the understanding of the pathogenesis of MCNS.