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Th1/Th2 balance in childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

K Kaneko1, K Tuchiya, S Fujinaga

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. kkaneko@med.juntendo.ac.jp

Clinical Nephrology
|January 2, 2003
PubMed

Insights

This study found no significant imbalance in helper T cell type 1 (Th1) or type 2 (Th2) cytokines in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). The immunological abnormality in INS likely involves other immune cells, not helper T cells.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatrics
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Childhood idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) has conflicting evidence regarding T helper cell type 1 (Th1) and type 2 (Th2) cytokine profiles.
  • Understanding the Th1/Th2 balance is crucial for elucidating the immunological pathogenesis of INS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the balance of Th1 and Th2 helper T cells in children with INS.
  • To compare intracellular cytokine production of interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in CD4+ cells between INS patients and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 16 children with steroid-sensitive INS and 15 healthy children were studied.
  • Three-color flow cytometry was employed to measure intracellular IFNγ and IL-4 production in CD4+ T cells.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed in the percentages of Th0, Th1, or Th2 cells within CD4+ cells in children with INS compared to controls.
  • The Th1/Th2 ratio in INS patients did not differ between nephrotic relapse and remission phases, nor compared to healthy children.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that the Th1/Th2 balance is not significantly skewed in childhood INS.
  • The primary immunological abnormality in INS may reside in other immune cells, such as suppressor/cytotoxic T cells, NK cells, or monocytes/macrophages.
  • Further research on these alternative cell types is warranted to clarify the pathogenesis of INS.
Abstract

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