CD3+, CD16+, CD56+ cells: a novel subset of T lymphocytes from patients with Balkanic nephropathy.

Balkanic Nephropathy (BN) is characterized by: an incidence limited to a geographic area; a familial character and a slow progressive evolution towards chronic renal failure associated with the symmetrical reduction of the kidney size. The aim of our study was to find out the immune alterations in BN pathology. The analysis of various subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes obtained from patients with BN showed no quantitative differences in comparison with healthy subjects and healthy subjects from the endemic area. In the BN patients we identified a novel subset of the CD3+, CD16+, CD56+ cells expressing the phenotypic characteristics of both T lymphocytes and NK cells.