Coincident activation of Th2 T cells with onset of the disease and differential expression of GRO-gamma in peripheral blood leukocytes in minimal change disease

Background: Involvement of Th2 T cells/NF kappa B in minimal change disease ( MCD) has been postulated. A promising but unconfirmed glomerular permeability factor ( GPF) from MCD T cells has been described. We explored whether GPF was the consequence of Th2 cell activation. Methods: Peripheral blood leukocytes ( PBL) from 16 MCD patients and 7 normal controls were analyzed and the results were statistically compared. Results: Flow cytometry demonstrated a significant expansion of CD4+ T cell population and dramatically increased CD69+ cells among CD4+ T cells in MCD, suggesting coincident activation of T cells with onset of the disease. RT-PCR on RNA from either freshly isolated PBL or post in vitro activation showed high-level expression of the Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 in all MCD patients. Importantly, both antibody microarray assay on sera and RT-PCR on mRNA of PBL revealed expression of a CXC chemokine GRO-gamma ( growth-related oncogene) in all MCD patients as compared with one of 7 controls. Conclusions: Our results reveal an association between onset of MCD and activation of Th2 cells. The GRO family has been implicated in the function of endothelial cells, and its expression is under NF kappa B regulation. Thus, GRO-gamma is a promising candidate for Th2-associated GPF in MCD. Copyright (C) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.