title: Studies on the mesangial handling of protein antigens: influence of size, charge and biologic activity.
abstract: The influence of certain physicochemical and biologic properties of protein antigens on their handling by the glomerular mesangium was studied in rats. The following ferritin-based probes were employed: (a) naturally occurring ferritin isomers to examine the role of molecular size; (b) chemically cationized ferritins (pI 7.1 and 8.8) to test charge effects; (c) glutaraldehyde (GA-)coupled ferritin as an analogue of a toxic molecule. Molecular size was found to be a major determinant of the extent and rapidity of antigen uptake, but had only a minor influence on persistence. The rapidity of uptake and antigen persistence was charge dependent, but to a limited extent. Biologic activity of macromolecules appears to be a very important determinant of mesangial handling since GA-treated ferritin was taken up much more rapidly and to a greater extent than native ferritin, and could persist for very prolonged periods.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D004563:Electrochemistry; D005293:Ferritins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005976:Glutaral; D007526:Isoelectric Point; D007536:Isomerism; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011506:Proteins / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D011506:Proteins; D005293:Ferritins; D005976:Glutaral