Cationic charge-preferential IgG reabsorption in the renal proximal tubules

Abstract

Background. The brush border of the renal proximal tubules has a polyanionic charge. Since immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules have a wide range of charge diversity, reabsorption of urinary IgG molecules are supposed to be influenced by the electrostatic interaction. Methods. Charge diversity of serum and urinary IgG molecules in patients with various renal diseases (N = 12) and premature neonates (N = 3) were analyzed by isoelectric focusing and Immunoblotting. Results. In patients with glomerular diseases, urinary IgG was solely composed of neutral and anionic IgG, whereas that of the cationic part (isoelectric point >8) was not observed. By contrast, in patients with proximal tubular diseases (Dent's disease and idiopathic Fanconi syndrome), the proportion of the cationic IgG was similar to that of serum IgG. In addition, the cationic part of IgG in the urine was found in the neonates with a gestational age of 28 and 31 weeks, but not found in those of 35 weeks. Conclusion. The results suggest that renal proximal tubules reabsorb the urinary IgG in a cationic preferential way, and this mechanism requires renal maturation.