Lymphocyte subpopulations and immunoglobulin production in IgA nephropathy.

Lymphocyte subpopulations were identified and Ig production in vitro was studied in patients with IgA nephropathy and in age-matched controls. The investigations were performed in an infection-free interval. The proportions of T-lymphocytes with Fc receptors for IgG and IgM, respectively, did not differ between patients and controls. T-suppressor (Leu 2A) and T-helper (Leu 3A) cells, as defined by monoclonal antibodies, were within normal range. The PWM-stimulated in vitro synthesis of IgA, IgG and IgM was somewhat higher in the patients than in the controls. However, the differences were not statistically significant. Thus, in the infection-free interval no evidence for a uniform disturbance in the lymphocyte subsets could be found.