Cellular immune responses and HLA antigens in post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis - abstract

ABSTRACT

Cellular immune reactions to non-specific mitogen, phytohaemagglutinin in (PHA) and specific blastogenic response to the nephritogenic strain, M55, of the streptococcus were investigated in an East Indian family in which all six siblings exhibited concurrent symptoms of post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) requiring hospitalization. These assays, as well as HLA typing, were done on the entire family to determine whether a specific non-responder status to the M55 antigen was present in the family, and to investigate the possible presence of an immune response gene controlling M55 response. With the exception of one sibling, cellular immune reactions to PHA were similar to control responses, indicating normal overall T cell functions. Specific M55 stimulation revealed a decreased response (30 percent reduction relative to controls) in the cells of the father and 3 of the siblings. The results of HLA typing showed the presence of the B52/DR2 halotype in all siblings due to the homozygous presence of this halotype in the father. The B52 antigen was also present in the mother, resulting in a homozygous condition for this antigen in 4 of the 6 children. While it cannot be concluded from this single family study that the presence of B52 antigen is related to disease susceptibility, the repeated occurrence of this antigen, as well as the B52/DR2 halotype, in this family is noteworthy. The study further illustrates the usefulness of family studies in resolving apparent "blanks" which occur with some frequency in our small inbred island population (AU)