Goodpasture syndrome involves antibodies directed against which structure?

Goodpasture syndrome involves antibodies directed against which structure?

• A. Type I collagen of skin
• B. Type IV collagen of alveolar basement membranes and glomerular basement membrane
• C. Type II collagen of cartilage
• D. Myelin basic protein

Answer: (B)

Autoimmune attack on basement membranes of the lung and kidney is what defines Goodpasture syndrome. The antibodies target type IV collagen, specifically the non-collagenous NC1 domain of the alpha-3 chain, found in both glomerular basement membranes and alveolar basement membranes. This direct attack leads to the two classic manifestations: rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage. The other targets don’t fit this pattern: Type I collagen is mainly in skin and bone, not kidney/alveolar basement membranes; Type II collagen is in cartilage; myelin basic protein is part of central nervous system myelin.

Autoimmune attack on basement membranes of the lung and kidney is what defines Goodpasture syndrome. The antibodies target type IV collagen, specifically the non-collagenous NC1 domain of the alpha-3 chain, found in both glomerular basement membranes and alveolar basement membranes. This direct attack leads to the two classic manifestations: rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and pulmonary hemorrhage. The other targets don’t fit this pattern: Type I collagen is mainly in skin and bone, not kidney/alveolar basement membranes; Type II collagen is in cartilage; myelin basic protein is part of central nervous system myelin.