The specificity of nephritogenic antibodies. V. Glomerular localization of anti-GP 330 and anti-GP 90 antibodies present in passive Heymann serum.

Administration in the rat of rabbit antibodies directed against rat tubular brushborder antigens (FXIA) leads to membranous glomerulopathy (HICN) associated with glomerular immune complexes (ICXS). These anti-FXIA antibodies (Abs) contain two major specificities, anti-GP 330 and anti-GP 90. The contribution of each specificity to the localization of anti-FXIA Abs was studied by direct immunofluorescence. Perfusion studies, under conditions which avoid ischaemia, confirmed that in this system glomerular localization of anti-FXIA Abs depends only on anti-GP 90 Abs, and the failure of anti-GP 330 Abs to localize after perfusion could not be attributed to ischaemia. In contrast, intravenous (i.v.) injection of anti-GP 330 Abs results in granular deposits of rabbit IgG, similar to those observed using anti-FXIA Abs. Injection i.v. of anti-GP 90 Abs results only in (faint) linear deposits. Using alternating and combined perfusion studies with these Abs, it is shown that anti-GP 90 Abs do not influence localization of anti-GP 330 Abs. In addition, systemic administration of anti-GP 90 Abs combined with perfusion of anti-GP 330 Abs does not facilitate localization of anti-GP 330 Abs. Although directly after i.v. injection of anti-FXIA Abs some anti-GP 90 Abs probably localize in the glomerular capillary wall, our results exclude a dominant or ancillary role for anti-GP 90 Abs in the formation of glomerular Icxs in HICN.