Evidence for cell-mediated immunity to renal antigens in minimal-change nephrotic syndrome.

A direct lymphocytotoxicity test was used to investigate 12 patients with minimal-change nephrotic syndrome and 12 patients with proliferative glomerulonephritis for cell-mediated immunity against an epithelial cell culture derived from human kidney. Lymphocytes from patients with minimal-change nephritis but not from those with proliferative disease had significantly greater lymphocytotoxicity against the cultures than did lymphocytes from normal controls.