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IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and focal segmental necrotizing glomerulonephritis (FSNGN) are characterized by proliferation of native glomerular cells and infiltration by inflammatory cells. Several cytokines act as mediators of kidney damage in both diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of Th1, Th2 and Treg/T17 cytokines in these types of proliferative glomerulonephritis. Simultaneous measurement of Th1 interleukin (IL-2, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α], interferon-gamma [INF-γ]), Th2(IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13), Treg/T17 transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF], IL-17) cytokines and C-C chemokines Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1 [MIP-1]β) was performed in first-morning urine samples, at the day of renal biopsy, using a multiplex cytokine assay. Cytokine concentrations were correlated with histological findings and renal function outcome. Urinary excretion of Th1, Th2 and Treg/Th17 cytokines were significantly higher in FSNGN compared to IgAN patients. In IgAN patients (n = 50, M/F: 36/14, M age: 40.7 [17-67] years), Th1, Th2 and T17 cytokines correlated significantly with the presence of endocapillary proliferation, while in FSNGN patients (n = 40, M/F: 24/16, M age: 56.5 [25-80] years), MCP-1 and TGF-β1 had a positive correlation with severe extracapillary proliferation (P = 0.001 and P= 0.002, respectively). Urinary IL-17 was the only independent parameter associated with endocapillary proliferation in IgAN and with MCP-1 urinary excretion in FSNGN. Response to treatment was mainly predicted by IL-6 in IgAN, and by Th2 (IL-4, IL-6), Treg (GM-CSF) cytokines and MIP-1β in FSNGN. Th1, Th2 and T17 cytokines were directly implicated in renal pathology in IgAN and possibly through MCP-1 production in FSNGN. IL-17 and IL-6 seem to have a central role in inflammation and progression of kidney injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. Recent evidence suggests that chronic subclinical inflammation plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic nephropathy. Aim of the present study was to investigate possible correlation between the presence and degree of microalbuminuria and markers of inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Patients-Methods. Eighty patients were enrolled and clinical and laboratory data were recorded. Albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) was calculated in first-morning urine samples. Serum and urinary tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were determined by ELISA. Results. Forty-five patients had normoalbuminuria, 33 microalbuminuria, and 2 macroalbuminuria. Patients with microalbuminuria were older, with higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c) and they more frequently had diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and cardiovascular disease and were on treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and/or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). ACR was significantly correlated with the presence of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and HbA1c levels and the administration of clopidogrel and ACEi or ARBs. ACR was not correlated with C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, or serum TNF-α levels but had a strong correlation with urinary TNF-α levels. Conclusions. In patients with type 2 DM, urinary, but not serum, TNF-α levels are associated with the presence and severity of microalbuminuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study that analyzed the data on patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in whom diagnosis of diffuse mesangial hypercellularity was made. Methodology; Results; Conclusion.