The binding of Fc fragments of Ig on glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) was observed
previously, but the receptor could not be identified. In immunofluorescence and
immunohistochemical studies using normal adult human kidney sections, the presence of
the so-called neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) was demonstrated on GEC as well as in the brush
border of proximal tubular cells. FcRn transcripts were also detected on isolated glomeruli
by reverse transcription-PCR. Using an immortalized GEC line, the presence of the FcRn …