Distribution of interleukin-6 receptors (CD_(126) and CD_(w130) ) on circulating lymphocytes in patients with lupus nephritis

Objective To study the distribution of IL 6 receptors (CD 126 and CD w130 ) on lymphocytes in patients with lupus nephritis(LN). Method The percentages of lymphocyte subsets were examined by direct two colour immunofluorescence on flow cytometry. Results (1) In active and inactive cases, the percentages of CD + 4 cells obviously decreased as compared with the normal controls ( P 0 01). Increased numbers of CD + 8 cells could be detected in LN patients ( P 0 05), especially in active cases ( P 0 01). Lymphocytes of active cases contained significantly greater percentage of CD + 23 cells than those of normal subjects ( P 0 05). On the contrary,the percentage of CD + 23 cells was statistically lower in the inactive cases than in normal subjects ( P 0 01). No significant difference in the percentages of CD + 126 and CD + w130 cells was observed among the active , inactive and healthy groups ( P 0 05); (2) The proportion of CD + 4CD + 126 and CD + 4CD + w130 cells in total lymphocytes was significantly lower in the active than in the inactive ones or normal subjects ( P 0 05; P 0 01), whereas that of CD + 8CD + 126 and CD + 8CD + w130 cells was not different among the active, inactive and normal subjects ( P 0 05). The proportion of CD + 23 CD + 126 cells and CD + 23 CD + w130 cells augmented significantly in the active ( P 0 05), whereas it lessened in the inactive without statistical meaning as compared with the normal subjects ( P 0 05). (3) There was a postive correlation between the percentage of CD + 23 CD + 126 cells and that of CD + 23 CD + w130 cells in total lymphocytes in the active group ( r =0 756, P 0 05). However, no correlation between the percentage of CD + 23 CD + 126 cells and that of CD + 23 CD + w130 cells in total lymphocytes was found in the inactive ( r =0.376, P 0.05) or normal group ( r =0 256, P 0 05); (4) The fraction of CD + 23 cells expressing CD 126 and CD w130 was related to the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and lymphopenia ( P 0 05, P 0 005). But it was neither associated with the number of damaged organs and the degree of damage, not with that of ANA、anti dsDNA antibody and complements (C 3 and C 4) ( P 0.05). Conclusions LN patients present not only B cell hyperactivity but also T cell abnormality. In active cases, there is abnormal distribution of IL 6 receptors on lymphocytes: reduced CD 126 and CD w130 expression on CD + 4 cells and elevated CD 126 and CD w130 expression on CD + 23 cells. Detecting the proportion of CD + 23 CD + 126 cells or CD + 23 CD + w130 cells in total lymphocytes may serve as one of activity indexes for LN patients.