The human choroid plexus and autoimmune nephritis.

The choroid plexus resembles the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and may be a site of injury or source of antigen in Goodpasture syndrome. Immunohistologic studies were performed on the choroid plexus of a patient with auto-immune nephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage. The studies showed linear deposition of host IgG, IGM, and beta1c. Antibody eluted from the diseased kidney fixed in a linear pattern to normal choroid plexus and could be absorbed by either choroid plexus or GBM. Antibody to choroid plexus fixed to GBM and the linear staining was no longer observed after absorption with GBM or choroid plexus. Antibody to GBM fixed to normal choroid plexus and was obsorbed by both choroid plexus and glomerular basement membrane. The studies suggest an immunologic relationship between choroid plexus and GBM and a role for the choroid plexus in autoimmune nephritis.