Related Experiment Videos
The complement-inhibiting protein, protectin (CD59 antigen), is present and functionally active on glomerular
I A Rooney1, A Davies, D Griffiths
1Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
Clinical and Experimental Immunology
|February 1, 1991
Summary
Protectin (CD59 antigen) protects human kidney cells from complement-mediated damage. This membrane protein may be crucial for maintaining glomerular integrity and relevant in renal diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Protectin (CD59 antigen) is a membrane protein that inhibits the complement system's membrane attack complex (MAC).
- Its functional role was previously demonstrated primarily in circulating cells, not kidney cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and function of protectin on human kidney cells.
- To determine if protectin protects glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) from complement-mediated lysis.
Main Methods:
- Immunofluorescence techniques were used to detect protectin on cultured human GEC and in renal cortex tissue sections.
- Functional assays involved exposing cultured GEC to homologous serum with and without anti-protectin antibody fragments.
Main Results:
- Protectin was identified on human GEC in culture and on GEC, tubular epithelial cells, and endothelial cells in normal human renal cortex.
- Cultured GEC treated with anti-protectin antibody fragments showed increased susceptibility to lysis by homologous serum.
Conclusions:
- Protectin is present on human kidney cells, including GEC.
- This protein plays a protective role for GEC against homologous complement.
- Protectin may be important for maintaining glomerular integrity and has implications for renal diseases.