Expression of HLA-ABC and -DR locus antigens on human kidney, endothelial, tubular and glomerular cells.

The distribution of the major histocompatibility complex antigens on the various cellular structures of the human kidney was analysed by using a modified Staphylococcus aureus Cowan 1 method. Conventional alloantisera and heterologous antisera raised against isolated molecules were used for the HLA-ABC antigens, whereas the HLA-DR (Ia) antigens were detected with heterologous antisera only. The HLA-ABC antigens were expressed on all types of kidney passenger leucocytes, on vascular endothelial cells, and on kidney tubular cells, but not substantially on the glomerular podocytes. The DR antigens were strongly expressed on (a fraction of) the passenger lymphocytes and on the kidney vascular endothelial cells, weakly on the passenger monocytes, but not measurably on the urine-producing apparatus of the kidney--that is, on the glomerular and tubular cells.