IgA1 Glycosylation Is Heritable in Healthy Twins.
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary GN and an important cause of kidney failure. Characteristically, patients with IgAN have increased serum levels of undergalactosylated IgA1 (gd-IgA1). To assess the degree to which serum gd-IgA1 levels are genetically determined in healthy individuals, we determined serum IgA and gd-IgA1 levels by ELISA in a sample of 148 healthy female twins, including 27 monozygotic and 47 dizygotic pairs. Using the classic twin model, we found the heritability of serum gd-IgA1 and IgA levels to be 80% (95% confidence interval, 66% to 89%) and 46% (95% confidence interval, 15% to 69%), respectively. These data indicate that serum gd-IgA1 levels are highly heritable. Elucidating the genetic basis of this heritability will be important in understanding the pathogenesis of IgAN.
Centre for Complement and Inflammation Research, and.
Hannah J
HJ
Lomax-Browne
Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Alessia
A
Visconti
Renal and Vascular Inflammation Section, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom; and.
Charles D
CD
Pusey
Centre for Complement and Inflammation Research, and.
H Terence
HT
Cook
Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.
Tim D
TD
Spector
Centre for Complement and Inflammation Research, and.
Matthew C
MC
Pickering
Department of Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom mario.falchi@kcl.ac.uk.
Mario
M
Falchi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004200:Diseases in Twins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged
D007070:Immunoglobulin A
IgA nephropathy; gd-IgA1; glycosylation; human genetics