Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and infiltration of lymphocytes in glomeruli of patients with IgA nephropathy.

Abstract

Using immunofluorescence, we studied 19 patients with IgA nephropathy to determine whether the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in glomeruli might reflect the disease activity. The relationship between the expression of ICAM-1 and the infiltration of lymphocytes, monocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in glomeruli of IgA nephropathy cases was examined. The expression of ICAM-1 in patients in the advanced stage was significantly higher than that in patients in the mild stage. In double immunofluorescence, the distribution of ICAM-1 expression in glomeruli was different from that of IgA deposition in patients in both stages. Glomeruli which showed increases of ICAM-1 expression had marked infiltration of lymphocytes (OKT4+, OKT8+ T cells), and monocytes (OKM1+ cells). Increase of urinary protein and decreases in renal function were observed in patients in the advanced stage. It appears that the expression of ICAM-1 is closely linked to glomerular cell proliferation, and infiltration of lymphocytes and monocytes in patients with IgA nephropathy. However, the expression of ICAM-1 in glomeruli might not be correlated with IgA-dominant immune complexes in this disease.