Membrane P-glycoprotein expression in lymphocytes from adult patients with refractory glomerulonephritis

To investigate the expression of P-glycoprotein in T-cell subpopulations of lymphocytes from adult patients with refractory glomerulonephritis (GN).

Flow cytometry was used to analyze the T-cell subpopulations of lymphocytes from adult patients with refractory GN and healthy individuals. The CD243 antibody marked the membrane P-glycoprotein of immune cells.

The mean ± standard deviation (SD) values of percentages of CD3⁺, CD3⁺CD4⁺, CD3⁺CD8⁺ cells in lymphocytes from patients with refractory GN were 63.94 ± 26.98, 55.16 ± 4.78, and 37.79 ± 6.01%, respectively. These values in healthy individuals were 74.88 ± 3.75, 56.60 ± 9.22, and 34.20 ± 5.21%, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the patients with refractory GN and healthy individuals. The mean ± SD values of percentages of CD3⁺CD4⁺CD243⁺ and CD3⁺CD8⁺CD243⁺ cells in the lymphocytes of patients with refractory GN were 0.14 ± 0.11 and 0.11 ± 0.07%, respectively. These values in healthy individuals were 0.05 ± 0.02 and 0.04 ± 0.02%, respectively. The difference in CD3⁺CD8⁺CD243⁺ percentage between patients with refractory GN and healthy individuals was significant (p = 0.0216).

These findings suggest that P-glycoprotein expression on CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells is a promising marker and a suitable target of drug resistance in patients with refractory GN.