[Autoantibodies against podocytes of the kidney glomerulus]

Novel autoantibodies are described which react with renal podocytes. These antibodies were found in 9 patients (2 with renal disease, 2 with liver disease, 2 with rheumatic disease, 1 with achalasia, 1 with carcinoma of the pancreas and 1 with anemia). Colocalization studies with double immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy using monoclonal antibodies against the 44 kD podocyte protein showed a similar fluorescence pattern for both antibodies. The target antigens remain unclear.