Natural Regulatory T cells (nTreg) in Minimal Change Disease and IgM Nephropathy

• Main Authors: Yada Louischaroen, Masatha Thongpan, Sansanee C. Chaiyaroj, Prasit Keesukphan, Panas Chalermsanyakorn, Vasant Sumethkul, Chagriya Kitiyakara, ญาดา หลุยเจริญ, มษฐา ทองปาน, ศันสนีย์ ไชยโรจน์, ประสิทธิ์ กี่สุขพันธ์, พนัส เฉลิมแสนยากร, วสันต์ สุเมธกุล, ชาครีย์ กิติยากร
• Other Authors: Mahidol University. Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital. Department of Medicine
• Format: Original Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Regulatory T cells; nTreg; Treg; T cells; Minimal change disease; IgM nephropathy; nephrotic syndrome; Kidney
• Online Access: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/79751
• Institution: Mahidol University

Background: IgM nephropathy is a variant of minimal change disease (MCD) and is the commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome among Thai adults. Although patients with IgM nephropathy generally respond well to treatment with corticosteroids, patients often have a remitting and relapsing course. The pathogenesis is not well understood. It has been proposed that MCD or IgM nephropathy reflects a disorder of T-lymphocytes. Recently, abnormalities in natural regulatory T cells (nTreg) have been implicated in a number of autoimmune diseases. Objective: This is a pilot study to examine the number of Foxp3+CD4+ T cells in patients with MCD or IgM nephropathy. Methods: Eleven patients (2 patients with MDC and 9 patients with IgM nephropathy) and 25 normal control subjects were studied. T cell subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. Results: Overall, nTreg were identified by the presence of Foxp3+CD4+ T cells. There were no significant differences in number of CD3+, CD4+ T cells population and Foxp3+CD4+ T cells in MCD/IgM patients compared with normal subjects. In a subgroup analysis, there was a significant increase in Foxp3+CD4+ numbers in untreated MCD/IgM patients with active disease compared to controls. Conclusion: These results suggesting correlation between activation of immune system in pathogenesis. Natural regulatory T cell as detected with Foxp3+CD4+ was increased in active MCD/IgM nephropathy patients.