IgA1 Glycosylation Is Heritable in Healthy Twins

Hannah J Lomax-Browne, Alessia Visconti, Charles D Pusey, H Terence Cook, Tim D Spector, Matthew C Pickering, Mario Falchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)
170 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)64-68
JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
Volume28
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jun 2016

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