Epithelial membrane antigen in normal and proteinuric glomeruli and in damaged proximal tubules

Epithelial membrane antigen was detected in normal glomeruli by a polyclonal antiserum to the antigen and by the monoclonal antibodies Ca 1, DAKO-EMA and HMFG 2, but not HMFG 1, using an indirect immunoperoxidase method. The antigen was in the form of a thin ring or collar at the junction of glomerulus and tubule. In a series of 47 renal biopsies from patients with proteinuria, the antigen could still be seen in glomeruli, provided that there were adequate numbers of glomeruli in the sections. The main object of study was the glomerular tip lesion, in which tip adhesions were seen to be just adjacent to the patch of epithelial membrane antigen. This suggested that the antigen may be important in pathogenesis of the lesion. Normal proximal tubules did not express epithelial membrane antigen but it was detected on the luminal border of acutely damaged proximal tubules. Thus the distribution of epithelial membrane antigen in the kidney is more complex than was previously thought.