Changes of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Subsets and Immune Function in Children with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura Nephritis

Purpuric nephritis is the most common secondary glomerular disease in childhood. Its prevalence in children has been steadily rising in recent years.

To explore the characteristics and pathogenesis of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets and immune function changes in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis.

The study included 104 children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura, divided into nephritis (HSPN) group (68 cases) and non-nephritis (NHSPN) group (36 cases), and 15 normal children were included as the control group. The rate-scatter turbidimetric method was utilized to determine the immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM, C3 and C4, and the flow cytometry analysis technique was employed to detect the levels of lymphocyte subsets such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+, CD19+, NK, etc.

Compared with the control group, the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and NK cell levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the HSPN group and the NHSPN group significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the CD19+ level significantly elevated (P<0.05); whereas the HSPN group had a more significant change than the NHSPN group (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the serum immunoglobulin IgA and IgG of the HSPN group and the NHSPN group significantly increased, and the IgM, C3, and C4 significantly decreased (P<0.05); while the HSPN group had a more significant change than the NHSPN group (P<0.05).

Immune dysfunction in children with HSPN is specifically manifested as low cellular immune function, which leads to an increased secretion of inflammatory mediators, activates B cells, and further increases the secretion of immunoglobulins, leading to the occurrence of small vasculitis.