Membranous nephropathy: the start of a paradigm shift.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose of review

Primary membranous nephropathy is a common glomerular disease characterized by sub-epithelial immune deposits that has become the prototype of an autoimmune glomerular disease. The purpose of this review is to highlight recent advances regarding the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy as well as potential new therapies.

Recent findings

The discovery of two major podocyte antigens, neutral endopeptidase (NEP), involved in rare cases of neonatal membranous nephropathy, and the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1), the first antigen discovered in adults, have been major 'breakthroughs' in our understanding of the pathogenesis of human membranous nephropathy. Anti-PLA2R antibodies appear to predict activity of the disease as well as response to therap

SUBMITTER: Herrmann SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3963608 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature