Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody

Autoantibodies called anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies (anti-GBM antibodies), are the direct cause of anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease. This is a rare autoimmune disorder that mainly impacts the kidneys, but may also affect the lungs. Instead of targeting external invaders such as pathogens or infections, these autoantibodies instead target the proteins in one's own basement membranes. Basement membranes are thin layers of proteins under the cells in the kidneys and lungs. When the membranes are attacked, they can be damaged.[1][2]

Normal function and structure of the kidneys and the lungs

The kidneys' job is to remove waste from our bodies and also acids that cell may make in order to keep our body's minerals and fluids balanced in our blood. If they are not their can be issues with muscles, nerves, tissues, controlling blood sugar, making blood cells, bone health, etc. In order for our Kidneys to function they need to filter out waste and in order to do so they have filter unit called nephrons that have a filter called the glomerulus that filters blood first and then the tubule that returns any important material to the bloodstream while removing waste.[3]

When blood flows into the kidneys and into the nephron the blood goes through the glomerulus, which are tiny blood vessels that are group together. They have thing walls so that smaller particles, waste, and mostly water can flow through into the tubule. Whatever is filtered, the tubule reabsorbs whatever the body needs like for example water or minerals. Whatever it doesn't need like acids gets removes from the bloodstream and any leftover fluids and waste turn into urine.