Monocyte function in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in childhood.

The monocyte function of 112 specimens from 42 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) aged from 2 to 17 years was studied by the methods of nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) reduction, phagocytosis of immunobeads (IB) and yeast cells, chemotaxis and acid alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) staining. The dissociation between phagocytosis and chemotaxis was observed in the fresh cases of steroid sensitive INS and in the cases of steroid non-sensitive INS. In the fresh cases of steroid sensitive INS, NBT reduction and phagocytosis were increased, but chemotaxis was decreased. In the cases of steroid non-sensitive INS, the phagocytosis of IB was decreased, but chemotaxis was increased. These findings suggest a different pathogenesis between steroid sensitive and steroid non-sensitive INS. The dissociation between phagocytosis and chemotaxis may be explained by the alteration of the surface receptors of monocyte and by lymphokines.