The Specificity of Anti-Kidney Antibody Determined by Its Effect upon Tissue Culture Explants

Abstract

Anti-kidney gamma globulin was prepd. from the serum of rabbits immunized with a suspension of rat kidney. The anti-kidney antibody was toxic in tissue culture for explants of rat kidney, brain and heart, but did not affect the growth of any other tissues. A wide variety of tissues was tested. The anti-kidney antibody, prepd. against rat kidney, was toxic to explants from chick mesonephros, brain and heart, but not for other chick tissues. The serum of patients with glomerular nephritis and intact renal function was found to contain a substance with similar effects upon tissue culture explants. Normal sera do not contain this nephrotoxic substance.