RESUMO
AIM: The study of interleukine-8 (IL-8) and defensines contribution to pathogenesis of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) and pyelonephritis (PN). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 122 patients were assigned to three groups: 42 CGN patients with isolated urinary syndrome (group 1); 60 patients with chronic pyelonephritis (CP) with normal nitrogen-excretory function (group 2); 20 patients with CGN and chronic renal failure (CRF) (group 3). 24 healthy volunteers served control. IL-8 and defensines were measured in urine and plasm of all the patients and controls using enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: IL-8 in urine and plasm of controls was not found, in plasm of patients was found in 45%, the differences between the groups being insignificant. The highest IL-8 urine concentration was found in group 2. It was significantly higher than in group 1 and 3 (p < 0.001). Mean IL-8 urine concentration in patients with secondary pyelonephritis was significantly higher than in those with primary pyelonephritis (p < 0.05). In primary pyelonephritis, urinary IL-8 was higher than in patients of groups 1 and 3 (p < 0.001). Mean urinary IL-8 was significantly higher in patients of group 3 than 1 (p < 0.005). IL-8 urinary concentrations of group 3 patients tended to an increase with growing severity of renal failure. Plasm defensines were present in 46.5% of patients without marked differences between the groups. Urine defensines were the highest in group 2 being significantly higher than in group 1, 3 and controls (p < 0.001). Urine defensines in group 1 were slightly higher than in controls and significantly reduced vs group 3 (p < 0.005). Urine defensines concentrations rose with CGN stage. A strong positive correlation was established between IL-8 and defensines in urine (r = 0.62), leukocyturia and IL-8 in urine (r = 0.52). A weak positive correlation (r = 0.38) existed between proteinuria and urine IL-8 only in group 3 patients. A week later concentrations of IL-8 and defensines were low in group 2. In group 1 they rose, fell or remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: IL-8 and defensines may be of the same pathogenetic importance both in infectious and non-infectious inflammation in the kidneys. Cytotoxic action of defensines can be related to location of the inflammation in the kidney. IL-8 urine tests can be used in monitoring of inflammation activity and diagnosis of latent glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis.