Deposition of beta 1H globulin in kidneys of patients with immune renal disease.

Renal biopsies from patients with a variety of immune type renal diseases were examined by immunofluorescence for the presence of C3 and its control protein, beta 1H globulin. Deposits of beta 1H were found in every instance (21 of 21 biopsies) in which C3 deposits were observed, irrespective of the underlying disease resulting in the C3 deposits, including lupus nephritis, acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, idiopathic membranous glomerulonephritis, and Goodpasture's syndrome. In no instance was beta 1H found independently of C3. As previously shown in in vitro systems, beta 1H also binds to C3, presumably C3b, during activation of the complement system in immunologically induced renal disease.