Circulating complexes containing IgA and fibronectin in patients with primary IgA nephropathy.

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Abstract
IgA antibodies from patients with primary IgA nephropathy bind to collagens I, II, and IV. Here we show that this binding is mediated by the collagen-binding site of fibronectin, which occurs in the circulation in complex with IgA. No antibodies binding directly to collagen were identified. The complexes were isolated by affinity chromatography on gelatin-Sepharose and heparin-Sepharose, both with affinity for fibronectin, followed by adsorption to anti-human IgA immobilized on agarose gel. The presence of fibronectin and IgA antibodies in the isolated complexes is shown by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, gel electrophoresis, and electrophoretic transfer followed by immunostaining. The presence of an IgA-fibronectin complex in serum and the binding of this complex to collagen demonstrate the necessity of removing fibronectin from serum prior to identifying anti-collagen antibodies.