Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated glomerulonephritis with detection of myeloperoxidase and phospholipase A2 receptor in membranous nephropathy-lesions: report of two patients with microscopic polyangiitis

摘要

BackgroundPodocyte phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) is a major target antigen in idiopathic adult membranous nephropathy (MN). Histological PLA2R staining in the renal tissue has proven to be useful for the detection of idiopathic MN. However, glomerular PLA2R deposits have also been recently observed in several patients with secondary MN, such as hepatitis B virus-associated, hepatitis C virus-associated, and neoplasm-associated MN. Certain inflammatory environments have been suggested to lead to abnormal expression of PLA2R epitopes, with the resulting production of PLA2R autoantibodies.