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Glomerular disease

Sugars and immune complex formation in IgA nephropathy

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 5, pages 612–614 (2009)Cite this article

In vitro evidence suggests that immune complex formation in IgA nephropathy is determined by the sugar content of the IgA1 hinge region. Absence of galactose residues in this region renders the IgA1 molecule immunogenic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Jonathan Barratt

  2. Department of Nephrology and Clinical Immunology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen, Germany

    Frank Eitner

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  1. Jonathan Barratt
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  2. Frank Eitner
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Correspondence to Jonathan Barratt.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Barratt, J., Eitner, F. Sugars and immune complex formation in IgA nephropathy. Nat Rev Nephrol 5, 612–614 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2009.165

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