Premium
Immune complex‐induced defects in glomerular basement membrane charge can be “repaired” despite continuing glomerular disease
Author(s) -
Furness Peter N.,
Turner David R.
Publication year - 1987
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711530213
Subject(s) - glomerular basement membrane , nephrotic syndrome , basement membrane , immune system , proteinuria , charge (physics) , podocyte , glomerulonephritis , pathology , medicine , immunology , kidney , physics , quantum mechanics
There have been conflicting reports over whether or not glomerular immune complex deposits cause proteinuria by neutralizing the glomerular basement membrane anionic charge. We investigated whether the reported discrepancies could arise as a result of repair of the charge layer, in the face of continuing antigen deposition, and how rapidly this repair could be effected. We used a chronic serum sickness model of glomerulonephritis which consistently produces a nephrotic syndrome stable over 8 weeks. Charge distribution was demonstrated by the polyethyleneimine (PEI) method. Subepithelial electron dense deposits were associated with defects in the charge layer of the lamina rara externa at 2 and 4 weeks, but at 8 weeks many of the deposits had become surrounded by a new charge layer. This finding is of relevance to the interpretation of similar studies on human material.