B CELL AND MONOCYTE PHENOTYPING A QUICK ASSET TO INVESTIGATE THE IMMUNE
STATUS IN PATIENTS WITH IGA NEPHROPATHY
Abstract
Background: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) advances from multiple pathogenic
“hits” resulting in poorly O-galactosylated IgA1 glycoforms (Gd-IgA1),
production of antibodies and glomerular deposition of immune complexes.
A sequence of immune responses arising from plasma cells, T cells and
antigen presenting cells (APCs), causes glomerular injury. Methods: This
study was designed to phenotype subsets of B cells, monocytes and T
cells in the peripheral circulation and their association with
inflammatory cytokines and renal function in patients with IgAN, healthy
controls (HC) and disease controls with autosomal dominant polycystic
kidney disease (ADPKD). Results: We observed a significant decrease in
the proportion of pre-switched B cells and plasmablasts, but an increase
in long-lived plasma cells in the peripheral circulation of IgAN
patients compared to HC. The proportion of non-classical monocytes was
significantly higher in IgAN patients compared to both HC and ADPKD. We
also report an association between sCD40L levels and the proportion of
pre-switched B cells, as well as sCD40L and MCP-1 levels and albuminuria
in IgAN patients. Conclusions: We applied an easy-access method to
analyze subsets of immune cells as well as relevant inflammatory
mediators in IgAN patients. Our data demonstrate an altered B cell
profile that indicates a pathophysiological role of the B cell lineage
and an increased proportion of non-classical monocytes that suggests
their role in the disease process.