摘要 |
<p>A novel immunoglobulin-like glycoprotein is described which has been found to occur in high concentrations in the urine of patients with glomerulosclerosis of end-stage renal disease. This nephropathy-related protein is also found at a high frequency in the urine of patients with a high risk of developing kidney disease, as well as in the urine of kidney transplant recipients who are expriencing early signs of organ failure or rejection. Although this glycoprotein has several antigenic epitopes which are identical to those on normal human IgG molecules, two monoclonal antibodies have been developed which bind epitopes which are unique to this nephropathy-related immunoglobulin-like molecule. Immunometric assays have been developed which permit this nephropathy-related protein to serve as an early and specific marker for kidney-related diseases.</p> |