Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

IgA Nephropathy

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology

Definition

IgA nephropathy is a form of mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis defined by the deposition of the immunoglobulin IgA within the mesangium of the glomerulus. This deposition is variably associated with mesangial hypercellularity and expansion of the mesangium.

Introduction and History

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) was first described in the 1960s by the French pathologist Jean Berger (1930–2011). He used the new technique of immunofluorescence to study renal biopsy specimens and noted that in a subset of patients with renal disease, deposits of the immunoglobulin IgA could be detected in the glomerulus. He published these findings in the seminal paper “Les dépôts intercapillaires d′IgA-IgG” in 1968 with Nicole Hinglais, an electron microscopist (Berger and Hinglais 1968). Since this time, IgAN, also known as Berger’s disease, has become recognized as the commonest glomerulonephritis in countries where renal biopsy is routinely performed. Its defining feature is the finding of...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 949.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Allen AC, Bailey EM, Brenchley PE, Buck KS, Barratt J, Feehally J. Mesangial IgA1 in IgA nephropathy exhibits aberrant O-glycosylation: observations in three patients. Kidney Int. 2001;60(3):969–73.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barratt J, Feehally J. Primary IgA nephropathy: new insights into pathogenesis. Semin Nephrol. 2011;31(4):349–60.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berger J, Hinglais N. Les depots intercapillaries d′IgA-IgG. J Urol Nephrol. 1968;74(9):694–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blaas SH, Stieber-Gunckel M, Falk W, Obermeier F, Rogler G. CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides stimulate immunoglobulin A secretion in intestinal mucosal B cells. Clin Exp Immunol. 2009;155(3):534–40.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Boyd JK, Barratt J. Immune complex formation in IgA nephropathy: CD89 a ‘saint’ or a ‘sinner’? Kidney Int. 2010;78(12):1211–3.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandtzaeg P, Farstad IN, Johansen FE, Morton HC, Norderhaug IN, Yamanaka T. The B-cell system of human mucosae and exocrine glands. Immunol Rev. 1999;171:45–87.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cattran DC, Coppo R, Cook HT, Feehally J, Roberts IS, Troyanov S, et al. The Oxford classification of IgA nephropathy: rationale, clinicopathological correlations, and classification. Kidney Int. 2009;76(5):534–45.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • D’Amico G. Natural history of idiopathic IgA nephropathy and factors predictive of disease outcome. Semin Nephrol. 2004;24(3):179–96.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feehally J, Farrall M, Boland A, Gale DP, Gut I, Heath S, et al. HLA has strongest association with IgA nephropathy in genome-wide analysis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;21(10):1791–7.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Floege J, Eitner F. Combined immunosuppression in high-risk patients with IgA nephropathy? J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010;21(10):1604–6.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Floege J. Recurrent IgA nephropathy after renal transplantation. Semin Nephrol. 2004;24(3):287–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gharavi AG, Moldoveanu Z, Wyatt RJ, Barker CV, Woodford SY, Lifton RP, et al. Aberrant IgA1 glycosylation is inherited in familial and sporadic IgA nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2008;19(5):1008–14.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Harper SJ, Pringle JH, Wicks AC, Hattersley J, Layward L, Allen A, et al. Expression of J chain mRNA in duodenal IgA plasma cells in IgA nephropathy. Kidney Int. 1994;45(3):836–44.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harper SJ, Allen AC, Pringle JH, Feehally J. Increased dimeric IgA producing B cells in the bone marrow in IgA nephropathy determined by in situ hybridisation for J chain mRNA. J Clin Pathol. 1996;49(1):38–42.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr MA. The structure and function of human IgA. Biochem J. 1990;271(2):285–96.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Moldoveanu Z, Wyatt RJ, Lee JY, Tomana M, Julian BA, Mestecky J, et al. Patients with IgA nephropathy have increased serum galactose-deficient IgA1 levels. Kidney Int. 2007;71(11):1148–54.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Novak J, Julian BA, Tomana M, Mestecky J. IgA glycosylation and IgA immune complexes in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. Semin Nephrol. 2008;28(1):78–87.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pouria S, Barratt J. Secondary IgA nephropathy. Semin Nephrol. 2008;28(1):27–37.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Qin W, Zhong X, Fan JM, Zhang YJ, Liu XR, Ma XY. External suppression causes the low expression of the Cosmc gene in IgA nephropathy. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2008;23(5):1608–14.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Suzuki H, Fan R, Zhang Z, Brown R, Hall S, Julian BA, et al. Aberrantly glycosylated IgA1 in IgA nephropathy patients is recognized by IgG antibodies with restricted heterogeneity. J Clin Invest. 2009;119(6):1668–77.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital and Department of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Joanna Boyd, Chee Kay Cheung & Jonathan Barratt

  2. Department of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Leicester, Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building, University Road, LE5 4PW, Leicester, UK

    Joanna Boyd & Jonathan Barratt

Authors
  1. Joanna Boyd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chee Kay Cheung
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jonathan Barratt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joanna Boyd .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Ian R. Mackay

  2. Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Noel R. Rose

  3. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Betty Diamond

  4. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Anne Davidson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Boyd, J., Cheung, C.K., Barratt, J. (2014). IgA Nephropathy. In: Mackay, I.R., Rose, N.R., Diamond, B., Davidson, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_55

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_55

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-84827-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-84828-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation