Clinical implementation of an antigen-identification approach in patients with membranous nephropathy and unknown antigen
Wissenschaftliches Arbeitsprogramm:
The identification of the pathogenic-role of PLA2Rl-antibodies in 75% of patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) has improved diagnosis and treatment decisions. In 10-15% of patients with MN the target antigen remains unknown. The aim of this project is the clinical implementation of a diagnostic approach, by which in every patient with MN the (hitherto unknown) target antigen is identified and the underlying pathomechanism of disease clarified, to enable the development of pathogenesis-based diagnosis and therapies. For this, different preparations of human glomerular extracts will be used, which display different antigen reaction specificities to patients sera. Both antigen and immune response properties (lgG and complement characteristics) will be analyzed in the serum and kidney biopsy of these patients, in addition to clinical characteristics and disease course over 10 years.