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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
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Published on: August 19, 2016
Natural killer cell proliferation and renal disease: a functional and phenotypic study
J A Vargas1, J C Gea-Banacloche, S Ramon y Cajal
1Service of Internal Medicine I, Clinica Puerta de Hierro, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
A woman with constitutional syndrome and glomerulonephritis had expanded natural killer (NK) cells. These NK cells showed strong cytotoxic activity but resolved spontaneously, though renal function remained abnormal.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
Background:
- Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) proliferations are rare disorders.
- Their association with renal disease is infrequently described.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old woman presented with constitutional symptoms, glomerulonephritis, and lymphocytosis.
- Flow cytometry revealed an expansion of natural killer (NK) cells (CD2+, CD3-, CD16+, CD56+, CD7+).
Findings:
- The expanded NK cell population demonstrated dose-dependent proliferation with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and phorbol dibutyrate.
- These NK cells exhibited potent natural killer (NK) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activities.
- The patient's symptoms resolved spontaneously, but abnormal renal function and persistent NK cell expansion were noted without signs of malignancy.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential link between NK cell expansion and glomerulonephritis.
- It underscores the importance of considering LGL proliferations in patients with unexplained renal disease.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the pathogenesis and long-term outcomes of such conditions.
Abstract:
We describe a 57-year-old woman who presented with a constitutional syndrome, glomerulonephritis, and lymphocytosis. The phenotypic study, using flow cytometry, showed an expansion of natural killer (NK) cells (CD2+, CD3-, CD16+, CD56+, and CD7+). We performed a functional study of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and of purified CD16+ cells (NK cells) and CD3+ cells (normal T cells). The expanded NK cell population, CD16+, did not proliferate with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or anti-CD3 but showed a dose-dependent proliferation with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and also proliferated with phorbol dibutyrate. This population showed very strong NK and lymphokine-activated killer cell (LAK) activities. The patient's symptoms resolved spontaneously without treatment. Three years later, however, there is still abnormal renal function, and the expansion of NK cells persists, although with no indication of malignancy. We review the features of the different large granular lymphocyte proliferations and their seldom described relationship with renal disease.
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