Decreased Production and Responsiveness of Interleukin 2 in Lymphocytes of Patients with Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

Production of and responsiveness to interleukin 2 (IL-2) were evaluated in lymphocytes from 18 patients with nephrotic syndrome. The IL-2 production of T cells, when stimulated with autologous non-T cells separated on a polystyrene resin column, was significantly decreased in patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome. No significant difference in the level of IL-2 production was noted between minimal-change nephrotic syndrome patients in the nephrotic stage and those in remission. The IL-2 production was also significantly decreased in lymphocytes from patients with membranous nephropathy. The responsiveness to IL-2 was inconstant among patients with nephrotic syndrome. These results indicate that the immune system of regulating IL-2 production is impaired in patients with nephrotic syndrome.