Basement membrane antigen in Wilms' tumor.

A basement membrane antigen was prepared from renal cortical basement membranes by partial reduction and alkylation. The antigen was partially purified by gel filtration chromatography. By indirect immunofluorescence, the antigen was found within five Wilms' tumors adjacent to tumor cells. The location and configuration of antigen was similar to that of flocculent electron-dense material observed ultrastructurally. The localization of this antigen provides immunohistochemical evidence for the production of basement membrane components by Wilms' tumors.