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The targets of nephritogenic antibodies in systemic autoimmune disorders
P Migliorini1, F Pratesi, F Bongiorni
1Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy. p.migliorini@med.unipi.it
Abstract:
In situ formation of immune complexes is a well recognized mechanism of renal injury in systemic autoimmune disorders. The identification of intrinsic renal antigens that are targets of nephritogenic antibodies is a field of active investigation. Recently, two proteins expressed in the kidney have been characterized as renal antigens. Alpha-actinin, an actin-binding protein localized in glomerular podocytes, is the major target of nephritogenic anti-DNA antibodies. Alpha-enolase, a glycolytic enzyme, is a target of nephritogenic anti-DNA and non-anti-DNA antibodies.