Aberrant Glycosylation of the IgA1 Molecule in IgA Nephropathy

Summary: IgA nephropathy, the most common primary glomerulonephritis in the world and a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease, is characterized by typical mesangial deposits of IgA1, as described by Berger and Hinglaise in 1968. Since then, it has been discovered that aberrant IgA1 O-glycosylation is involved in disease pathogenesis. Progress in glycomic, genomic, clinical, analytical, and biochemical studies has shown autoimmune features of IgA nephropathy. The autoimmune character of the disease is explained by a multihit pathogenesis model, wherein overproduction of aberrantly glycosylated IgA1, galactose-deficient in some O-glycans, by IgA1-secreting cells leads to increased levels of circulatory galactose-deficient IgA1.
Source: Seminars in Nephrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Source Type: research