Renal tubular antigens in regenerative epithelium and renal carcinoma.

Antibodies to brush border antigen (BB) and epithelial membrane antigen (HMFG2) have been used in immunocytochemical preparations to define specific portions of the nephron. In both fetal and adult kidney BB was confined to the proximal tubule and HMFG2 to the distal tubule and collecting duct. The distribution of the antigens was studied in regenerative epithelium (15 cases) and renal carcinoma (35 cases). Regenerative epithelium in six cases expressed both antigens, and 29/35 renal carcinomas expressed both antigens. These results demonstrated some antigenic similarities between regenerative hyperplastic tubular epithelium and renal carcinoma.