Attachment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes to glomeruli in IgA nephropathy

It has been reported that depressed phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies containing IgA was observed in PMN from patients with IgA nephropathy. Peripheral blood PMN obtained from 19 patients with IgA nephropathy and 19 healthy subjects is investigated to determine whether or not they adhere to glomeruli in frozen sections of specimens from patients with IgA nephropathy. The average number of PMN from patients with IgA nephropathy that attached to glomeruli was significantly lower than the number seen with PMN obtained from healthy subjects. The results suggest that PMN function is depressed in patients with IgA nephropathy; it is postulated that these abnormalities may play an important role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of IgA nephropathy.