Analysis of viral infection in patients with IgA nephropathy

We investigated viral infections in the tonsils, pharynx and renal tissues of patients with IgA nephropathy using cell culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immuno-fluorescent techniques, and measured antibody titers against numerous types of viruses. Neutralization tests found no significant inhibition of growth of adenovirus-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11 or 19, Coxsackie virus-A7, A9, A16, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5 or B6, or RS virus. Swabs of the oral cavity of patients with IgA nephropathy were cultured with Hel cells, MDCK cells, FL cells, BHK-21 cells and RD-18S cells. No cytopathic effect was detected in any of these cell cultures. We failed to detect the presence of herpes simplex virus-1 and -2, varicella-zoster virus, cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-1 and -2 in tonsils, renal tissues and mouthwashings from patients with IgA nephropathy. On the other hand, EBV alone was detected with the PCR technique, in mouthwashings from 6 out of 14 patients with IgA nephropathy (42%). Immunohistological and serological analyses were done to examine the relationship between EBV and IgA nephropathy. No evidence was obtained that EBV-infected B lymphocytes were producing IgA. It seems unlikely that the viral infections examined in this study play a significant role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy.