INTRAGLOMERULAR LEUKOCYTES AND GLOMERULAR LESION ACTIVITY IN PROLIFERATIVE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

T cells and macrophages contribute to glomerular hipercellularity in g lomerulonephritis (GN), but their sequential intraglomerular appearanc e as has been shown in experimental GN, has not been studied. We have identified glomerular immunocompetent cells by avidin-biotin-peroxidas e technique using monoclonal antibodies (Mo Abs) for all leucocytes (C D45), all T cells (CD3), helper/inducer T cells (CD4), cytotoxic/suppr essor T cells (CD8) and macrophages (CD14) in 29 renal biopsies from p atients with proliferative GN (13 with endocapillary GN, 16 with extra capillary GN). The number of positive cells for each Mo Ab was counted in all glomeruli. Their relationship with the total number of intragl omerular poly-morphonuclears/total number of glomeruli (PMN/g) index a nd with the total number of glomeruli with cellular crescents in more than 50 % Bowman's space/total number of glomeruli (Cel.C/g) index, wa s analyzed. T cells were more numerous in biopsies with endo- (n = 11, p < 0,05) and extracapillary (n = 17) proliferation studied soon ofte r clinical onset than in biopsies studies later. Leucocytes, T cells, T cell subsets, and macrophages were more numerous in biopsies with gr eater than or equal to 3 PMN/g or less than or equal to 0.3 Gel. C/g t han in biopsies with < 3 PMN/g or < 0.3 Cel.C/g; the difference was si gnificant for CD4+ T cells (p < 0.001 for greater than or equal to 3 P MN/g, p < 0.05 for greater than or equal to 0.3 Cel.C/g). This suggest s an association between the intensity of glomerular T cell infiltrate and early stage of the disease. The presence of macrophages, T cells and CD4+ T cells in glomeruli with a high glomerular lesion activity i ndex, supports the role of cellular immunity in proliferative GN.