Binding of monoclonal antibodies to glomerular endothelium, slit membranes, and epithelium after in vivo injection. Localization of antigens and bound IgGs by immunoelectron microscopy.

The antigens recognized by seven monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against rat glomerular proteins were localized, and the sites of binding of the MAbs after in vivo injection were determined by immunoelectron microscopy. The antigens were localized in situ by immunoperoxidase and immunogold labeling to different domains and microdomains of the glomerular endothelium and epithelium. 23A recognized an antigen expressed exclusively on the luminal (apical) domain of the endothelium. 5A (anti-podocalyxin) and 26C (anti-DPPIV) recognized antigens expressed on the apical domains of both the endothelium and podocytes. 13A, 14A, 20B (anti-gp330), and 27A recognized antigens restricted to podocytes in the glomerulus. The 13A antigen was present on their basal surface and the 27A and 14A antigens were expressed on both their apical and basal domains. The 14A antigen also was associated with the filtration slit membranes. All these MAbS bound to their antigens after injection in vivo. Those that recognize endothelial antigens were rapidly cleared from the circulation and rapidly disappeared from glomeruli, whereas those that recognize epithelial antigens persisted in the circulation and were detectable in glomeruli for hours or days. The sites of binding of the MAbs differed: 23A and 5A IgG (antipodocalyxin) bound exclusively to the luminal domain of the endothelium, whereas 26C IgG (anti-DPPIV) bound to both the luminal endothelial membrane and the apical and basal domains of podocytes. The MAbs that recognize podocyte antigens bound to different domains of the podocyte plasmalemma: 13A and 27A IgGs to the basal domain, 14A to the slit membranes, and 20B to coated pits on the entire plasma membrane. 27A IgG led to the formation of small subepithelial immune deposits that remained up to 10 days. It is concluded that 1) glomerular membrane proteins vary considerably in their distribution among plasmalemmal domains and microdomains of endothelial and epithelial cells; 2) virtually all structures in the glomerulus and all domains and micro-domains of the endothelium and podocyte are accessible to circulating antibodies; and 3) the fate of immune complexes formed by binding to glomerular components varies with the location of the antigen within the glomerulus, with those that bind to the basal domain and slit membranes of the podocyte persisting longer than the others.