IMMUNOREACTIVE BASEMENT MEMBRANE ANTIGENS IN NORMAL HUMAN URINE AND SERUM

Abstract

Using a sheep antiserum to human glomerular basement membrane (GBM), studies of urine from healthy adults showed the presence of two cross-reactive antigens. These antigens were purified partially by preparative electrophoresis and electrofocusing, and separated on G-200; both appeared to be acidic, of high molecular weight, and carbohydrate rich. Their immunologic relationship to human GBM solubilized by several techniques was deduced from lines of identity with the native GBM digests in double diffusion analyses. These antigens will combine with homologous anti-GBM antibodies and block their fixation to human kidney sections, and will evoke heterologous anti-GBM antibody production in the rabbit.