Immune complex formation in the glomerulus by antibody against heparansulfate proteoglycans

In a variety of glomerulonephritis, such as, membranous nephritis, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and Hymann nephritis, immune complex deposits are seen localized in the outer subepithelial aspect of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM). In view of the fact that all the layers of the GBM come in contact with the immune complexes, the mechanism for peculiar selective formation of immune deposits in the subepithelial space are poorly understood. We have already found that antibody against glomerular heparan sulfate-proteoglycans (HS-PG) is nephrotoxic and forms subepithelial immune complexes. In order to clarify this peculiar subepithelial immune complexes formation, we tracked the movement of antibody against glomerular proteoglycans by immunoelectron microscopy.