[Interleukin-6 and immune state in children with nephrotic syndrome]

IL-6 activities were determined in 37 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) by using an IL-6 dependent murine hybridoma-clone (MH60). The results showed that the levels of IL-6 activities in children with INS at the stage of onset were significantly higher than those of normal control group (P < 0.01), and the levels of IL-6 activities had positive correlation with the levels of urinary protein in 24 hours. The levels of IL-6 activities decreased remarkably at the stage of remission. CD+3 cells and the levels of serum IgG decreased significantly in those with INS; CD+8 cell increased and CD+4/CD-8 cell ratio decreased obviously in those with the simple nephrotic syndrome (SNS) at the stage of onset as compared with normal control group. These results indicate that there are immune disorders characterized by increased level of IL-6 activity in INS and suggest that IL-6 plays an important role in the development of INS.