Membranous glomerulonephritis mediated by renal tubular epithelial antigen-antibody complex

Abstract

Autologous renal tubular epithelial antigen was demonstrated together with immunoglobulins and β 1c along the glomerular capillary walls in 4 out of 9 patients with idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis, and the existence of the clinical entity of glomerulonephritis mediated by tubular epithelial antigen-antibody complexes was suggested. Although no differences in laboratory data were noted between tubular antigen-positive and -negative groups, clinical remission occurred only in the negative group. The fact that no remission was observed in the tubular antigen-positive group may be explained by the continuous supply of the antigen from endogenous sources that maintained the production of immune complexes and subsequent glomerular injury.