The protective role of Foxp3 in crescentic GN was associated with a markedly suppressed expression of proinflammatory interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), and diminished infiltration of the kidneys by CD3<sup>+</sup> T cells and F4/80<sup>+</sup> macrophages.
TLR3 expression correlated positively with HCV viral load, interleukin-1β, serum creatinine and inversely with creatinine clearance in patients with HCV-positive glomerulonephritis.
To address whether these two diseases have a common genetic background, the polymorphism of the variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) gene has been analyzed using PCR in patients diagnosed with HSPN (N = 43) and IgAN (N = 97), together with normal controls (N = 98) and patients with acute post-infectious glomerulonephritis (APGN), under the concept that IL-1 might play an important role in mediating pathogenesis of vasculitis and glomerulonephritis.
In segmental sclerosing lesions in FSGS and in IgA-GN with marked glomerular proliferation and/or sclerosis, a reduced expression of the PP-44 antigen and a diminished ability of podocytes to produce IL-1/IL-1 related peptides are noted.