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Comment
. 2015 Sep;88(3):439-41.
doi: 10.1038/ki.2015.153.

IgM in the kidney: a multiple personality disorder

Jeffrey L Platt  1   2 , Marilia Cascalho  1   2
Affiliations
Comment

IgM in the kidney: a multiple personality disorder

Jeffrey L Platt et al. Kidney Int. 2015 Sep.

Abstract

IgM in the blood of normal individuals consists mainly of 'natural' polyreactive antibodies. Natural IgM is thought to provide an initial defense against infection and to promote the healing of wounded cells. Yet, as Panzer and colleagues show, these benefits can be eclipsed when the IgM binds to damaged cells of the glomerulus, activating complement. IgM in glomeruli thus signifies cellular damage and may warn that the pace of that damage exceeds the capacity for repair.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: The authors have no pertinent conflicts.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Natural IgM and complement in the injury and potentially in the repair of cell surfaces in factor H deficient mice
In mice lacking complement factor H, the complement system is constitutively activated and that damages cells in the glomerulus and elsewhere. In some systems binding of natural antibodies and activation of complement at a low-level induced repair and protection against further injury, a condition called accommodation. However, when IgM binds to damaged cells of the glomerulus, complement is further activated via the classical pathway and the rate and/or extent of damage exceeds the capacity for repair or accommodation.
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Comment on

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