Antigen-Specific IgG Subclasses in Primary and Malignancy-Associated Membranous Nephropathy.

ABSTRACT: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease caused by binding of circulating antibodies to podocyte antigens in the kidney. For decades and still today primary MN has been considered to have an unspecified IgG4-driven autoimmune genesis, while secondary MN has been associated with other diseases, most notably cancer, and not linked to IgG4. Immunologic mechanisms of primary and malignancy-associated MN are assumed to be different, however, this has never been systematically evaluated. The identification of Phospholipase A₂ Receptor 1 (PLA₂R1) and Thrombospondin Type-1 Domain-Containing 7A (THSD7A) as target antigens in MN allows a pathogenesis-driven differential diagnosis. Recent data showing a molecular link between increased THSD7A-expression in tumors and

SUBMITTER: von Haxthausen F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6306563 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature