Effect of tonsillectomy on peripheral blood T cell surface markers and cytokine production in patients with IgA nephropathy accompanied by chronic tonsillitis.

The present study investigated changes in peripheral blood T cell surface markers and cytokines (interleukin-2, IL-2; tumor necrosis factor-alpha, TNF-alpha; and interferon-gamma, IFN-gamma) following tonsillectomy in patients with IgA nephropathy accompanied by chronic tonsillitis. Peripheral blood CD8+ cells, CD45RA+CD4+ cells and CD8+CD11b- cells increased significantly after tonsillectomy, compared with their preoperative values. In some cases, the preoperative serum TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma levels were higher than normal before surgery, but decreased after surgery. These results suggest that tonsillectomy suppresses a decrease in suppressor T cells in patients with IgA nephropathy and corrects abnormal cell-mediated immune responses in these patients.