Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 12, Issue 11 2263-2268, Copyright © 1997 by Oxford University Press
I Gunnarsson, J Ronnelid, I Lundberg and S Jacobson
Background: The pathogenic mechanisms and the antigens
involved in the establishment and progress of IgA nephropathy are unknown.
As antibodies against C1q have been reported to correlate with SLE
nephritis, we analysed the occurrence of these antibodies in IgA
nephropathy in order to investigate the possibility of pathogenetic
similarities in these renal disorders. Methods: The
occurrence of IgA- and IgG anti-C1q antibodies (anti-C1q) were determined
by ELISA in patients with IgA nephropathy (n=36) and SLE nephritis (n=37),
diseases both known to be associated with circulating immune complexes.
Levels of these antibodies were also determined in two other glomerular
diseases, i.e. idiopathic membranous glomerulo-nephritis (n=7) and minimal
change disease (n=2), in which circulating immune complexes are usually not
present, and in 40 healthy controls. Results: IgA
anti-C1q was observed in increased titres in 11/36 of the patients with IgA
nephropathy, in 2/37 of the patients with SLE nephritis (both with
proliferative disease) and in 1/9 of the patients with membranous and
minimal change disease (P<0.001). Increased titres of IgG anti-C1q
were observed in 1/36 of the patients with IgA nephropathy, in 17/37 of the
patients with SLE nephritis and in 0/9 of the patients with membranous and
minimal change disease (P<0.001). There were no correlations between
the levels of anti-C1q antibodies and clinical parameters such as degree of
proteinuria, haematuria, or renal function. Nor was there any correlation
to the concentration of C3a and the terminal complement complex (TCC) in
patients with IgA nephropathy. Conclusions: The
occurrence of anti-C1q antibodies in both IgA nephropathy and SLE
nephritis, albeit of different predominating isotypes, indicates the
possibility of a similar pathogenic mechanism involved in these renal
disorders. The occurrence of IgA anti-C1q antibodies in patients with IgA
nephropathy has to our knowledge not previously been reported.
Key words: anti-C1q antibodies; complement; idiopathic
membranous glomerulonephritis; IgA nephropathy; SLE nephritis; minimal
change disease
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Occurrence of anti-C1q antibodies in IgA nephropathy
Departments of Rheumatology and Nephrology, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden; Corresponding author
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