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T regulatory cell function in idiopathic minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that, in idiopathic minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome (IMLNS), the T regulatory (T reg) cell suppressor mechanism is deficient, thereby enhancing cytokine release by T effector cells. Twenty-one patients with IMLNS, eight healthy controls and two patients with nephrotic syndrome and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis were studied. The percentage of T reg cells was similar in the healthy controls and in patients with IMLNS in relapse or in remission. Thymidine incorporation in autologous T effector cells, as well as expression of the regulatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10, was significantly reduced in patients in relapse when compared with patients in remission and healthy subjects. IL-2 expression was also reduced in patients in relapse but did not achieve statistical significance. In a different set of experiments, T cells, from subjects with IMLNS in remission, when stimulated with antiCD3-antiCD28 antibodies, secreted increased levels of cytokines. No such increase in cytokines was observed when cells from healthy controls were stimulated with same mitogen. The impaired T reg cell function observed in these patients may have pathogenic and therapeutic implications, because it could explain the persistence of the proposed pathogenic cytokines observed in the patients with IMLNS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Carlos Araya, Leila Diaz & Eduardo Garin

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Clive Wasserfall & Mark Atkinson

  3. Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Wei Mu & Richard Johnson

  4. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, PO Box 100296, 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0296, USA

    Eduardo Garin

Authors
  1. Carlos Araya
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  2. Leila Diaz
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  3. Clive Wasserfall
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  4. Mark Atkinson
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  5. Wei Mu
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  6. Richard Johnson
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  7. Eduardo Garin
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Correspondence to Eduardo Garin.

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Araya, C., Diaz, L., Wasserfall, C. et al. T regulatory cell function in idiopathic minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome. Pediatr Nephrol 24, 1691–1698 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-009-1214-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-009-1214-x

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