Pathology of glomerular basement membrane nephropathy.

Studies of the molecular pathology of glomerular basement membrane have led to the discovery of four novel chains of type IV collagen, the latest of which is the alpha 6(IV) chain. Three chains have been shown to be directly involved in the pathogenesis of Goodpasture syndrome, Alport syndrome, and Alport posttransplantation antiglomerular basement membrane nephritis. This review focuses on the novel chains with respect to recent advances in their structure, gene organization, and involvement in the pathogenesis of these glomerulopathies.