Expression of interleukin-8 in human glomerulonephritis

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) is a cytokine, which possesses both chemotactic and activating properties for neutrophils, lymphocytes and basophils. Various evidence has indicated IL-8 to be implicated in the pathophysiology of immune-mediated renal diseases. We thus examined the expression of IL-8 in renal diseases. We detected the expression of IL-8 both in mRNA and the protein levels in renal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with IgA nephropathy and lupus nephritis. A significant correlation was found between the expression of IL-8 mRNA and the number of neutrophils in the glomerulus. We also found a negative correlation between the expression of IL-8 mRNA and creatinine clearance. Our study thus suggested IL-8 to be involved in the pathophysiology of proliferative glomerulonephritis.