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Vivarelli M, Barratt J, Beck LH, Fakhouri F, Gale DP, Goicoechea de Jorge E, Mosca M, Noris M, Pickering MC, Susztak K, Thurman JM, Cheung M, King JM, Jadoul M, Winkelmayer WC, Smith RJH. The role of complement in kidney disease: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int 2024; 106:369-391. [PMID: 38844295 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2024.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Uncontrolled complement activation can cause or contribute to glomerular injury in multiple kidney diseases. Although complement activation plays a causal role in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and C3 glomerulopathy, over the past decade, a rapidly accumulating body of evidence has shown a role for complement activation in multiple other kidney diseases, including diabetic nephropathy and several glomerulonephritides. The number of available complement inhibitor therapies has also increased during the same period. In 2022, Kidney Diseases: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) convened a Controversies Conference, "The Role of Complement in Kidney Disease," to address the expanding role of complement dysregulation in the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of various glomerular diseases, diabetic nephropathy, and other forms of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Conference participants reviewed the evidence for complement playing a primary causal or secondary role in progression for several disease states and considered how evidence of complement involvement might inform management. Participating patients with various complement-mediated diseases and caregivers described concerns related to life planning, implications surrounding genetic testing, and the need for inclusive implementation of effective novel therapies into clinical practice. The value of biomarkers in monitoring disease course and the role of the glomerular microenvironment in complement response were examined, and key gaps in knowledge and research priorities were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Vivarelli
- Laboratory of Nephrology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Jonathan Barratt
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Laurence H Beck
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fadi Fakhouri
- Department of Nephrology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Nantes, France; INSERM UMR S1064, Nantes, France
| | - Daniel P Gale
- Centre for Kidney and Bladder Health, University College London, UK
| | - Elena Goicoechea de Jorge
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ORL, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain; Area of Chronic Diseases and Transplantation, Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Mosca
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine-Rheumatology Unit, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marina Noris
- Clinical Research Center for Rare Diseases Aldo e Cele Daccò, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Ranica, Italy
| | - Matthew C Pickering
- Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College, Hammersmith Campus, London, UK
| | - Katalin Susztak
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joshua M Thurman
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | | | - Michel Jadoul
- Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Wolfgang C Winkelmayer
- Selzman Institute for Kidney Health, Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Richard J H Smith
- Molecular Otolaryngology and Renal Research Laboratories, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
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2
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Xu J, Hu H, Sun Y, Zhao Z, Zhang D, Yang L, Lu Q. The fate of immune complexes in membranous nephropathy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1441017. [PMID: 39185424 PMCID: PMC11342396 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1441017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The most characteristic feature of membranous nephropathy (MN) is the presence of subepithelial electron dense deposits and the consequential thickening of the glomerular basement membrane. There have been great advances in the understanding of the destiny of immune complexes in MN by the benefit of experimental models represented by Heymann nephritis. Subepithelial immune complexes are formed in situ by autoantibodies targeting native autoantigens or exogenous planted antigens such as the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and cationic BSA respectively. The nascent immune complexes would not be pathogenic until they develop into immune deposits. Podocytes are the major source of autoantigens in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. They also participate in the modulation and removal of the immune complexes to a large extent. The balance between deposition and clearance is regulated by a wide range of factors such as the composition and physicochemical properties of the immune complexes and the complement system. Complement components such as C3 and C1q have been reported to be precipitated with the deposits whereas a complement regulatory protein CR1 expressed by podocytes is involved in the phagocytosis of immune complexes by podocytes. Podocytes regulate the dynamic change of immune complexes which is disturbed in membranous nephropathy. To elucidate the precise fate of the immune complexes is essential for developing more rational and novel therapies for membranous nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haikun Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhe Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Danyuan Zhang
- Qi Huang of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Nephropathy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qingyi Lu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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3
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Alkaff FF, Lammerts RGM, Daha MR, Berger SP, van den Born J. Apical tubular complement activation and the loss of kidney function in proteinuric kidney diseases. Clin Kidney J 2024; 17:sfae215. [PMID: 39135935 PMCID: PMC11318052 DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Many kidney diseases are associated with proteinuria. Since proteinuria is independently associated with kidney function loss, anti-proteinuric medication, often in combination with dietary salt restriction, comprises a major cornerstone in the prevention of progressive kidney failure. Nevertheless, complete remission of proteinuria is very difficult to achieve, and most patients with persistent proteinuria slowly progress toward kidney failure. It is well-recognized that proteinuria leads to kidney inflammation and fibrosis via various mechanisms. Among others, complement activation at the apical side of the proximal tubular epithelial cells is suggested to play a crucial role as a cause of progressive loss of kidney function. However, hitherto limited attention is given to the pathophysiological role of tubular complement activation relative to glomerular complement activation. This review aims to summarize the evidence for tubular epithelial complement activation in proteinuric kidney diseases in relation to loss of kidney function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Firas F Alkaff
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Division of Pharmacology and Therapy, Department of Anatomy, Histology, and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya, Indonesia
| | - Rosa G M Lammerts
- Transplantation Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Mohamed R Daha
- Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan P Berger
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Jacob van den Born
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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4
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Liu J, Malhotra D, Ge Y, Gunning W, Dworkin L, Gong R. THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy involves both complement-mediated and autonomous podocyte injury. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1430451. [PMID: 39086386 PMCID: PMC11288966 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1430451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) continues to be a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in non-diabetic adults. As a unique subtype in the serology-based classification of MN, thrombospondin type 1 domain containing 7A (THSD7A)-associated MN has attracted increasing interest, because, unlike other autoantigens, THSD7A is also expressed in preclinical species, facilitating the study of its role in MN. A heterologous mouse model of THSD7A-associated MN was previously established using a proprietary in-house antibody that was unfortunately not available to the research community. Here, we developed a mouse model of THSD7A-associated MN by administering a commercially available antibody targeting the most N-terminal part of THSD7A. Our model was characterized by heavy proteinuria and pathological features of human MN without sex differences. Complement depletion with cobra venom factor only partially attenuated proteinuria and glomerular injury in this model, entailing that complement-independent pathomechanisms also contribute. Consistently, in vitro in primary podocytes, exposure to the anti-THSD7A antibody caused evident podocytopathic changes, including disruption of actin cytoskeleton integrity, podocyte hypermobility, oxidative stress, and apoptotic cell death. These signs of podocytopathy were preserved, albeit to a lesser extent, after complement inactivation, indicating autonomous podocyte injury. Furthermore, as the first FDA-approved treatment for primary MN, adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy with repository corticotropin injection (Purified Cortrophin Gel®) appeared to be beneficial and significantly attenuated proteinuria and glomerular injury, suggesting that this model may be useful for developing novel treatments or understanding the pathogenesis of MN. Collectively, our model, based on the use of a commercially available anti-THSD7A antibody, will be an important tool for MN research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Deepak Malhotra
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Yan Ge
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - William Gunning
- Department of Pathology, The University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Lance Dworkin
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Toledo, OH, United States
| | - Rujun Gong
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Toledo, OH, United States
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5
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Wang M, Yang J, Fang X, Lin W, Yang Y. Membranous nephropathy: pathogenesis and treatments. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e614. [PMID: 38948114 PMCID: PMC11214595 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN), an autoimmune disease, can manifest at any age and is among the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. In 80% of cases, the specific etiology of MN remains unknown, while the remaining cases are linked to drug use or underlying conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis B virus, or malignancy. Although about one-third of patients may achieve spontaneous complete or partial remission with conservative management, another third face an elevated risk of disease progression, potentially leading to end-stage renal disease within 10 years. The identification of phospholipase A2 receptor as the primary target antigen in MN has brought about a significant shift in disease management and monitoring. This review explores recent advancements in the pathophysiology of MN, encompassing pathogenesis, clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and prognosis, with a focus on emerging developments in pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies aimed at halting disease progression. By synthesizing the latest research findings and clinical insights, this review seeks to contribute to the ongoing efforts to enhance our understanding and management of this challenging autoimmune disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengqiong Wang
- Department of NephrologyCenter for Regeneration and Aging MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicineand International School of Medicine, International Institutes of MedicineZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
| | - Jingjuan Yang
- Department of NephrologyCenter for Regeneration and Aging MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicineand International School of Medicine, International Institutes of MedicineZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
| | - Xin Fang
- Department of NephrologyCenter for Regeneration and Aging MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicineand International School of Medicine, International Institutes of MedicineZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
| | - Weiqiang Lin
- Department of NephrologyCenter for Regeneration and Aging MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicineand International School of Medicine, International Institutes of MedicineZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of NephrologyCenter for Regeneration and Aging MedicineThe Fourth Affiliated Hospital of School of Medicineand International School of Medicine, International Institutes of MedicineZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
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6
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Liu F, Ryan ST, Fahnoe KC, Morgan JG, Cheung AE, Storek MJ, Best A, Chen HA, Locatelli M, Xu S, Schmidt E, Schmidt-Jiménez LF, Bieber K, Henderson JM, Lian CG, Verschoor A, Ludwig RJ, Benigni A, Remuzzi G, Salant DJ, Kalled SL, Thurman JM, Holers VM, Violette SM, Wawersik S. C3d-Targeted factor H inhibits tissue complement in disease models and reduces glomerular injury without affecting circulating complement. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1061-1079. [PMID: 38382529 PMCID: PMC11163200 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Complement-mediated diseases can be treated using systemic inhibitors. However, complement components are abundant in circulation, affecting systemic inhibitors' exposure and efficacy. Furthermore, because of complement's essential role in immunity, systemic treatments raise infection risk in patients. To address these challenges, we developed antibody fusion proteins combining the alternative-pathway complement inhibitor factor H (fH1-5) with an anti-C3d monoclonal antibody (C3d-mAb-2fH). Because C3d is deposited at sites of complement activity, this molecule localizes to tissue complement while minimizing circulating complement engagement. These fusion proteins bind to deposited complement in diseased human skin sections and localize to activated complement in a primate skin injury model. We further explored the pharmacology of C3d-mAb-2fH proteins in rodent models with robust tissue complement activation. Doses of C3d-mAb-2fH >1 mg/kg achieved >75% tissue complement inhibition in mouse and rat injury models while avoiding circulating complement blockade. Glomerular-specific complement inhibition reduced proteinuria and preserved podocyte foot-process architecture in rat membranous nephropathy, indicating disease-modifying efficacy. These data indicate that targeting local tissue complement results in durable and efficacious complement blockade in skin and kidney while avoiding systemic inhibition, suggesting broad applicability of this approach in treating a range of complement-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Liu
- Q32 Bio, Waltham, MA 02451, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Hui A Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Monica Locatelli
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Centro Anna Maria Astori, Science and Technology Park Kilometro Rosso, 24126 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Shuyun Xu
- Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Enno Schmidt
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Leon F Schmidt-Jiménez
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Katja Bieber
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Joel M Henderson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Christine G Lian
- Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Admar Verschoor
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technische Universität München and Klinikum Rechts der Isar, 81675 Munich, Germany; Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ralf J Ludwig
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Ariela Benigni
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Centro Anna Maria Astori, Science and Technology Park Kilometro Rosso, 24126 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Remuzzi
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Centro Anna Maria Astori, Science and Technology Park Kilometro Rosso, 24126 Bergamo, Italy
| | - David J Salant
- Department of Medicine, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine at Boston University and Section of Nephrology, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | | | - Joshua M Thurman
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - V Michael Holers
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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7
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Efe O, So PNH, Anandh U, Lerma EV, Wiegley N. An Updated Review of Membranous Nephropathy. Indian J Nephrol 2024; 34:105-118. [PMID: 38681023 PMCID: PMC11044666 DOI: 10.25259/ijn_317_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome in adults. The discovery of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as a target antigen has led to a paradigm shift in the understanding and management of MN. At present, serum PLA2R antibodies are used for diagnosis, prognostication, and guiding treatment. Now, with the discovery of more than 20 novel target antigens, antigen mapping is almost complete. The clinical association of certain antigens provides clues for clinicians, such as the association of nerve epidermal growth factor-like 1 with malignancies and indigenous medicines. Serum antibodies are detected for most target antigens, except exostosin 1 and 2 and transforming growth factor-beta receptor 3, but their clinical utility is yet to be defined. Genome-wide association studies and studies investigating environmental factors, such as air pollution, shed more light on the underpinnings of MN. The standard therapy of MN diversified from cyclical cyclophosphamide and steroids to include rituximab and calcineurin inhibitors over the past decades. Here, we provide a cutting-edge review of MN, focusing on genetics, immune system and environmental factors, novel target antigens and their clinical characteristics, and currently available and emerging novel therapies in MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orhan Efe
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
| | | | - Urmila Anandh
- Department of Nephrology, Amrita Hospitals, Faridabad, Delhi, NCR, India
| | - Edgar V. Lerma
- Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago; Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, Illinois, USA
| | - Nasim Wiegley
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
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8
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Kistler AD, Salant DJ. Complement activation and effector pathways in membranous nephropathy. Kidney Int 2024; 105:473-483. [PMID: 38142037 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Complement activation has long been recognized as a central feature of membranous nephropathy (MN). Evidence for its role has been derived from the detection of complement products in biopsy tissue and urine from patients with MN and from mechanistic studies primarily based on the passive Heymann nephritis model. Only recently, more detailed insights into the exact mechanisms of complement activation and effector pathways have been gained from patient data, animal models, and in vitro models based on specific target antigens relevant to the human disease. These data are of clinical relevance, as they parallel the recent development of numerous specific complement therapeutics for clinical use. Despite efficient B-cell depletion, many patients with MN achieve only partial remission of proteinuria, which may be explained by the persistence of subepithelial immune complexes and ongoing complement-mediated podocyte injury. Targeting complement, therefore, represents an attractive adjunct treatment for MN, but it will need to be tailored to the specific complement pathways relevant to MN. This review summarizes the different lines of evidence for a central role of complement in MN and for the relevance of distinct complement activation and effector pathways, with a focus on recent developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas D Kistler
- Department of Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Frauenfeld, Spital Thurgau AG, Frauenfeld, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - David J Salant
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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9
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Zhang Q, Bin S, Budge K, Petrosyan A, Villani V, Aguiari P, Vink C, Wetzels J, Soloyan H, La Manna G, Podestà MA, Molinari P, Sedrakyan S, Lemley KV, De Filippo RE, Perin L, Cravedi P, Da Sacco S. C3aR-initiated signaling is a critical mechanism of podocyte injury in membranous nephropathy. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e172976. [PMID: 38227377 PMCID: PMC11143932 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.172976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The deposition of antipodocyte autoantibodies in the glomerular subepithelial space induces primary membranous nephropathy (MN), the leading cause of nephrotic syndrome worldwide. Taking advantage of the glomerulus-on-a-chip system, we modeled human primary MN induced by anti-PLA2R antibodies. Here we show that exposure of primary human podocytes expressing PLA2R to MN serum results in IgG deposition and complement activation on their surface, leading to loss of the chip permselectivity to albumin. C3a receptor (C3aR) antagonists as well as C3AR gene silencing in podocytes reduced oxidative stress induced by MN serum and prevented albumin leakage. In contrast, inhibition of the formation of the membrane-attack-complex (MAC), previously thought to play a major role in MN pathogenesis, did not affect permselectivity to albumin. In addition, treatment with a C3aR antagonist effectively prevented proteinuria in a mouse model of MN, substantiating the chip findings. In conclusion, using a combination of pathophysiologically relevant in vitro and in vivo models, we established that C3a/C3aR signaling plays a critical role in complement-mediated MN pathogenesis, indicating an alternative therapeutic target for MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sofia Bin
- Translational Transplant Research Center and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, IRCCS - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Kelly Budge
- Translational Transplant Research Center and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Astgik Petrosyan
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Valentina Villani
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Paola Aguiari
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Coralien Vink
- Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jack Wetzels
- Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hasmik Soloyan
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Gaetano La Manna
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, IRCCS - Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuel Alfredo Podestà
- Transplantation Research Center, Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Paolo Molinari
- Translational Transplant Research Center and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sargis Sedrakyan
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kevin V. Lemley
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Roger E. De Filippo
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Laura Perin
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Paolo Cravedi
- Translational Transplant Research Center and Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stefano Da Sacco
- GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology, Saban Research Institute, Division of Urology, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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10
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Skitchenko R, Modrusan Z, Loboda A, Kopp JB, Winkler CA, Sergushichev A, Gupta N, Stevens C, Daly MJ, Shaw A, Artomov M. CR1 variants contribute to FSGS susceptibility across multiple populations. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2023:2023.11.20.23298462. [PMID: 38076851 PMCID: PMC10705641 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.20.23298462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome with an annual incidence in the United States in African-Americans compared to European-Americans of 24 cases and 5 cases per million, respectively. Among glomerular diseases in Europe and Latin-America, FSGS was the second most frequent diagnosis, and in Asia the fifth. We expand previous efforts in understanding genetics of FSGS by performing a case-control study involving ethnically-diverse groups FSGS cases (726) and a pool of controls (13,994), using panel sequencing of approximately 2,500 podocyte-expressed genes. Through rare variant association tests, we replicated known risk genes - KANK1, COL4A4, and APOL1. A novel significant association was observed for the gene encoding complement receptor 1 (CR1). High-risk rare variants in CR1 in the European-American cohort were commonly observed in Latin- and African-Americans. Therefore, a combined rare and common variant analysis was used to replicate the CR1 association in non-European populations. The CR1 risk variant, rs17047661, gives rise to the Sl1/Sl2 (R1601G) allele that was previously associated with protection against cerebral malaria. Pleiotropic effects of rs17047661 may explain the difference in allele frequencies across continental ancestries and suggest a possible role for genetically-driven alterations of adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of FSGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rostislav Skitchenko
- ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Zora Modrusan
- Research Biology, Genentech Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Loboda
- ITMO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Almazov National Medical Research Centre, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Kopp
- Kidney Disease Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cheryl A. Winkler
- Molecular Genetic Epidemiology Studies Section, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mark J. Daly
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrey Shaw
- Research Biology, Genentech Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mykyta Artomov
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA
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11
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Tomas NM, Schnarre A, Dehde S, Lucas R, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Kretz O, Koellner SMS, Wiech T, Koch-Nolte F, Seifert L, Huber TB, Zahner G. Introduction of a novel chimeric active immunization mouse model of PLA2R1-associated membranous nephropathy. Kidney Int 2023; 104:916-928. [PMID: 37598854 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) is the major target antigen in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), an antibody-mediated autoimmune glomerular disease. Investigation of MN pathogenesis has been hampered by the lack of reliable animal models. Here, we overcome this issue by generating a transgenic mouse line expressing a chimeric PLA2R1 (chPLA2R1) consisting of three human PLA2R1 domains (cysteine-rich, fibronectin type-II and CTLD1) and seven murine PLA2R1 domains (CTLD2-8) specifically in podocytes. Mice expressing the chPLA2R1 were healthy at birth and showed no major glomerular alterations when compared to mice with a wild-type PLA2R1 status. Upon active immunization with human PLA2R1 (hPLA2R1), chPLA2R1-positive mice developed anti-hPLA2R1 antibodies, a nephrotic syndrome, and all major histological features of MN, including granular deposition of mouse IgG and complement components in immunofluorescence and subepithelial electron-dense deposits and podocyte foot process effacement in electron microscopy. In order to investigate the role of the complement system in this model, we further crossed chPLA2R1-positive mice with mice lacking the central complement component C3 (C3-/- mice). Upon immunization with hPLA2R1, chPLA2R1-positive C3-/- mice had substantially less severe albuminuria and nephrotic syndrome when compared to chPLA2R1-positive mice with a wild-type C3 status. In conclusion, we introduce a novel active immunization model of PLA2R1-associated MN and demonstrate a pathogenic role of the complement system in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola M Tomas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Annabel Schnarre
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silke Dehde
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lucas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Irm Hermans-Borgmeyer
- Center of Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Kretz
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah M S Koellner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Seifert
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gunther Zahner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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12
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Hua MR, Zhao YL, Yang JZ, Zou L, Zhao YY, Li X. Membranous nephropathy: Mechanistic insights and therapeutic perspectives. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 120:110317. [PMID: 37207447 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is one of the most common causes of non-diabetic nephrotic syndrome in adults. About 80% of cases are renal limited (primary MN) and 20% are associated with other systemic diseases or exposures (secondary MN). Autoimmune reaction is the main pathogenic factor of MN, and the discovery of autoantigens including the phospholipase A2 receptor and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 7A has led to new insights into the pathogenesis, they can induce humoral immune responses led by IgG4 makes them suitable for the diagnosis and monitoring of MN. In addition, complement activation, genetic susceptibility genes and environmental pollution are also involved in MN immune response. In clinical practice, due to the spontaneous remission of MN, the combination of supportive therapy and pharmacological treatment is widely used. Immunosuppressive drugs are the cornerstone of MN treatment, and the dangers and benefits of this approach vary from person to person. In summary, this review provides a more comprehensive review of the immune pathogenesis, interventions and unresolved issues of MN in the hope of providing some new ideas for clinical and scientific researchers in the treatment of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ru Hua
- Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, No. 777 Xitai Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China
| | - Yan-Long Zhao
- Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, No. 777 Xitai Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China
| | - Jun-Zheng Yang
- Guangdong nephrotic drug Engineering Technology Research Center, Institute of Consun Co. for Chinese Medicine in Kidney Diseases, Guangdong Consun Pharmaceutical Group, No. 71 Dongpeng avenue, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, No. 2025 Chengluo Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan 610106, China
| | - Ying-Yong Zhao
- Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, No. 777 Xitai Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China; School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, No. 2025 Chengluo Avenue, Chengdu, Sichuan 610106, China; School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, No. 548 Binwen Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, China.
| | - Xia Li
- Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, No. 777 Xitai Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
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13
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Seifert L, Zahner G, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Hickstein N, Dehde S, Wulf S, Köllner SMS, Lucas R, Kylies D, Froembling S, Zielinski S, Kretz O, Borodovsky A, Biniaminov S, Wang Y, Cheng H, Koch-Nolte F, Zipfel PF, Hopfer H, Puelles VG, Panzer U, Huber TB, Wiech T, Tomas NM. The classical pathway triggers pathogenic complement activation in membranous nephropathy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:473. [PMID: 36709213 PMCID: PMC9884226 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by glomerular immune complexes containing complement components. However, both the initiation pathways and the pathogenic significance of complement activation in MN are poorly understood. Here, we show that components from all three complement pathways (alternative, classical and lectin) are found in renal biopsies from patients with MN. Proximity ligation assays to directly visualize complement assembly in the tissue reveal dominant activation via the classical pathway, with a close correlation to the degree of glomerular C1q-binding IgG subclasses. In an antigen-specific autoimmune mouse model of MN, glomerular damage and proteinuria are reduced in complement-deficient mice compared with wild-type littermates. Severe disease with progressive ascites, accompanied by extensive loss of the integral podocyte slit diaphragm proteins, nephrin and neph1, only occur in wild-type animals. Finally, targeted silencing of C3 using RNA interference after the onset of proteinuria significantly attenuates disease. Our study shows that, in MN, complement is primarily activated via the classical pathway and targeting complement components such as C3 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Seifert
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gunther Zahner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Catherine Meyer-Schwesinger
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Naemi Hickstein
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silke Dehde
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonia Wulf
- Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah M S Köllner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lucas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Kylies
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Froembling
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Zielinski
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Kretz
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Yanyan Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Helmut Hopfer
- Department of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Victor G Puelles
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ulf Panzer
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicola M Tomas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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14
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Chung EYM, Wang YM, Keung K, Hu M, McCarthy H, Wong G, Kairaitis L, Bose B, Harris DCH, Alexander SI. Membranous nephropathy: Clearer pathology and mechanisms identify potential strategies for treatment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1036249. [PMID: 36405681 PMCID: PMC9667740 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1036249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) is one of the common causes of adult-onset nephrotic syndrome and is characterized by autoantibodies against podocyte antigens causing in situ immune complex deposition. Much of our understanding of the disease mechanisms underpinning this kidney-limited autoimmune disease originally came from studies of Heymann nephritis, a rat model of PMN, where autoantibodies against megalin produced a similar disease phenotype though megalin is not implicated in human disease. In PMN, the major target antigen was identified to be M-type phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R) in 2009. Further utilization of mass spectrometry on immunoprecipitated glomerular extracts and laser micro dissected glomeruli has allowed the rapid discovery of other antigens (thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 7A, neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein, semaphorin 3B, protocadherin 7, high temperature requirement A serine peptidase 1, netrin G1) targeted by autoantibodies in PMN. Despite these major advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of PMN, treatments remain non-specific, often ineffective, or toxic. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the immune mechanisms driving PMN from animal models and clinical studies, and the implications on the development of future targeted therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Y. M. Chung
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Yuan M. Wang
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Karen Keung
- Department of Nephrology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Min Hu
- The Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Hugh McCarthy
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Germaine Wong
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Lukas Kairaitis
- Department of Nephrology, Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown, NSW, Australia
| | - Bhadran Bose
- Department of Nephrology, Nepean Hospital, Kingswood, NSW, Australia
| | - David C. H. Harris
- The Centre for Transplant and Renal Research, Westmead Institute of Medical Research, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Stephen I. Alexander
- Centre for Kidney Research, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
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15
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So BYF, Chan GCW, Yap DYH, Chan TM. The role of the complement system in primary membranous nephropathy: A narrative review in the era of new therapeutic targets. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1009864. [PMID: 36353636 PMCID: PMC9639362 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1009864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary membranous nephropathy (MN) is an important cause of nephrotic syndrome and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the adult population. Although the discovery of different autoantibodies against glomerular/podocytic antigens have highlighted the role of B cells in the pathogenesis of MN, suboptimal response or even resistance to B cell-directed therapies occurs, suggesting that other pathophysiological mechanisms are involved in mediating podocyte injury. The complement system plays an important role in the innate immune response to infection, and dysregulation of the complement system has been observed in various kidney diseases. There is compelling evidence of complement cascade activation in primary MN, with the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and alternative pathways particularly implicated. With appropriate validation, assays of complements and associated activation products could hold promise as adjunctive tools for non-invasive disease monitoring and prognostication. While there is growing interest to target the complement system in MN, there is concern regarding the risk of infection due to encapsulated organisms and high treatment costs, highlighting the need for clinical trials to identify patients most likely to benefit from complement-directed therapies.
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16
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Teisseyre M, Beyze A, Perrochia H, Szwarc I, Bourgeois A, Champion C, Chenine L, Serre JE, Broner J, Aglae C, Pernin V, Le Quintrec M. C5b-9 Glomerular Deposits Are Associated With Poor Renal Survival in Membranous Nephropathy. Kidney Int Rep 2022; 8:103-114. [PMID: 36644365 PMCID: PMC9831938 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the first cause of nephrotic syndrome in patients without diabetes. Its prognosis is variable, and treatment remains controversial because of potential toxicity. Currently, there is no reliable prognostic marker common to all etiologies of MN and routinely available to predict the disease course and guide therapeutic management. Despite the major role of complement in the glomerular damage of MN, its prognostic impact has never been studied. We investigated the frequency and prognostic impact of glomerular deposition of C5b-9 in MN. Methods We retrospectively selected adults diagnosed with MN (primary or secondary) at Montpellier University Hospital between December 2004 and December 2015. To be included, all patients were required to have complete medical data and a kidney tissue sample for further immunohistochemistry. We performed PLA2R1, C4d, and C5b-9 staining by immunohistochemistry. Results Sixty-four adults were included: 45 with primary MN and 19 with secondary MN. C4d was positive in the glomeruli of 61 adults (95.3%). Twenty-nine adults (45.3%) had glomerular deposition of C5b-9. Patients with glomerular deposition of C5b-9 had more severe nephrotic syndrome on diagnosis and lower remission and renal survival rates than adults without. Conclusion C5b-9 glomerular staining is a powerful and easily accessible tool for stratifying adults according to their renal prognosis. The efficacy of complement inhibitors should be tested in adults with glomerular deposition of C5b-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Teisseyre
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France,Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Anaïs Beyze
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France,Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Hélène Perrochia
- Department of Pathology, Gui de Chauliac Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Ilan Szwarc
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Alexis Bourgeois
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Coralie Champion
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Leila Chenine
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Emmanuel Serre
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Jonathan Broner
- Department of Internal Medicine, Caremeau Hospital, Nîmes University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Nîmes, France
| | - Cédric Aglae
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Vincent Pernin
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France,Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Moglie Le Quintrec
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France,Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier University Hospital, University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France,Correspondence: Moglie Le Quintrec, Department of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, University of Montpellier, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy, Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale U1183, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Montpellier–Hôpital Lapeyronie, 371, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34295 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
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17
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Gao S, Cui Z, Zhao MH. Complement C3a and C3a Receptor Activation Mediates Podocyte Injuries in the Mechanism of Primary Membranous Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:1742-1756. [PMID: 35777783 PMCID: PMC9529185 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021101384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The complement system is highly activated in primary membranous nephropathy (MN). Identifying the complement components that damage podocytes has important therapeutic implications. This study investigated the role of C3a and the C3a receptor (C3aR) in the pathogenesis of MN. METHODS C3aR expression in kidneys and circulating levels of C3a of MN patients were examined. Human podocyte damage was assessed after exposure to MN plasma +/- C3aR blockade (SB290157, JR14a). C3aR antagonists were administered to rats with Heymann nephritis on day 0 or after proteinuria. Clinical and pathologic parameters, specific IgG and complement activation, and podocyte injuries were then assessed. RESULTS In the glomeruli, C3aR staining merged well with podocin. Overexpression of C3aR correlated positively with proteinuria, serum creatinine, and no response to treatments. Human podocytes exposed to MN plasma showed increased expression of PLA2R, C3aR, and Wnt3/β-catenin, reduced expression of synaptopodin and migration function, downregulated Bcl-2, and decreased cell viability. C3aR antagonists could block these effects. In Heymann nephritis rats, C3aR blockade attenuated proteinuria, electron-dense deposition, foot process width, and glomerular basement membrane thickening in glomeruli. The increased plasma C3a levels and overexpression of C3aR were also alleviated. Specific, but not total, IgG levels decreased, with less deposition of rat IgG in glomeruli and subsequent reduction of C1q, factor B, and C5b-9. CONCLUSION C3a anaphylatoxin is a crucial effector of complement-mediated podocyte damage in MN. The C3aR antagonist may be a potentially viable treatment for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Gao
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Cui
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-hui Zhao
- Renal Division, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
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18
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Kettritz R, Schreiber A. Complement is Complimentary in Membranous Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:1631-1633. [PMID: 35831021 PMCID: PMC9529176 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2022060633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Kettritz
- Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany and Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrian Schreiber
- Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany and Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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19
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Kamyshova ES, Semeryuk TA, Bobkova IN. Modern view on the complement system role in membranous nephropathy. TERAPEVT ARKH 2022; 94:772-776. [DOI: 10.26442/00403660.2022.06.201563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN), an immune-mediated glomerular disease, is the most common cause of adult nephrotic syndrome. In MN, proteinuria is developed by podocyte damage due to the complement system activation in response to the subepithelial deposition of immune complexes containing various auto- and exogenous antigens. Membrane-attacking complex (MAC) is the terminal product of any complement pathways activation (classical, lectin or alternative) and plays the leading role in the complement-mediated podocytic damage. Thus far, the main pathway of complement activation leading to the formation of MAC in MN has not been established. The review highlights current evidence of various complement pathways activation in the development of MN, as well as recently established new molecular mechanisms of complement-mediated podocyte damage.
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20
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Evaluation of renal injury and function biomarkers, including symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), in the rat passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) model. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269085. [PMID: 35622875 PMCID: PMC9140233 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) is a serum biomarker of excretory renal function which consistently correlates with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) across multiple species including rats, dogs, and humans. In human and veterinary clinical settings SDMA demonstrates enhanced sensitivity for detection of declining renal function as compared to other serum biomarkers, but application in preclinical study designs thus far has been limited. The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of serum SDMA in a rat passive Heyman nephritis model of glomerulopathy. In addition to SDMA other biomarkers of excretory renal function were measured including serum creatinine (sCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and cystatin C along with creatinine clearance. Urinary renal biomarkers including microalbumin (μALB), clusterin (CLU), cystatin C, kidney injury marker-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and osteopontin (OPN) were also measured. PHN was induced using commercial sheep anti-Fx1A serum. Tissue, serum, and urine were collected from groups of control and anti-Fx1A-treated animals for biomarker evaluation, hematology, urinalysis, serum biochemistry, and histologic examination of kidney. Over the course of a 28-day study, concentrations of the urinary biomarkers μALB, CLU, cystatin C, NGAL, KIM-1 and the serum biomarker cystatin C increased significantly in anti-Fx1A-treated rats as compared to controls but no significant increase in serum SDMA, sCr, BUN, or creatinine clearance were noted in anti-Fx1A-treated rats. Given lack of direct GFR measurement or significant change in the renal function biomarkers sCr, BUN, and creatinine clearance, it is unclear if GFR differed significantly between control and anti-Fx1A-treated rats in this study, though urinary biomarkers and histopathologic findings supported renal injury in anti-Fx1A-treated rats over the time course investigated. This study is among the first to investigate serum SDMA in a rat model relevant to preclinical safety assessment and serves to inform future experimental designs and biomarker selection when evaluation of glomerular injury is of priority.
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Fakhouri F, Schwotzer N, Golshayan D, Frémeaux-Bacchi V. The Rational Use of Complement Inhibitors in Kidney Diseases. Kidney Int Rep 2022; 7:1165-1178. [PMID: 35685323 PMCID: PMC9171628 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of complement inhibitors represented one of the major breakthroughs in clinical nephrology in the last decade. Complement inhibition has dramatically transformed the outcome of one of the most severe kidney diseases, the atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a prototypic complement-mediated disorder. The availability of complement inhibitors has also opened new promising perspectives for the management of several other kidney diseases in which complement activation is involved to a variable extent. With the rapidly growing number of complement inhibitors tested in a rapidly increasing number of indications, a rational use of this innovative and expensive new therapeutic class has become crucial. The present review aims to summarize what we know, and what we still ignore, regarding complement activation and therapeutic inhibition in kidney diseases. It also provides some clues and elements of thoughts for a rational approach of complement modulation in kidney diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadi Fakhouri
- Service de Néphrologie et d'hypertension, Département de Médecine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nora Schwotzer
- Service de Néphrologie et d'hypertension, Département de Médecine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Déla Golshayan
- Centre de Transplantation d'organes, Département de Médecine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Véronique Frémeaux-Bacchi
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service d'Immunologie, Paris University, Paris, France
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22
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Urinary C5b-9 as a Prognostic Marker in IgA Nephropathy. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11030820. [PMID: 35160271 PMCID: PMC8836759 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11030820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
C5b-9 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of immunoglobin A nephropathy (IgAN). We evaluated C5b-9 as a prognostic marker for IgAN. We prospectively enrolled 33 patients with biopsy-proven IgAN. We analyzed the correlation between baseline urinary C5b-9 levels, posttreatment changes in their levels, and clinical outcomes, including changes in proteinuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and treatment response. Baseline urinary C5b-9 levels were positively correlated with proteinuria (r = 0.548, p = 0.001) at the time of diagnosis. Changes in urinary C5b-9 levels were positively correlated with changes in proteinuria (r = 0.644, p < 0.001) and inversely correlated with changes in eGFR (r = −0.410, p = 0.018) at 6 months after treatment. Changes in urinary C5b-9 levels were positively correlated with time-averaged proteinuria during the follow-up period (r= 0.461, p = 0.007) but were not correlated with the mean annual rate of eGFR decline (r = −0.282, p = 0.112). Baseline urinary C5b-9 levels were not a significant independent factor that could predict the treatment response in logistic regression analyses (odds ratio 0.997; 95% confidence interval, 0.993 to 1.000; p = 0.078). Currently, urinary C5b-9 is not a promising prognostic biomarker for IgAN, and further studies are needed.
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23
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Caza TN, Al-Rabadi LF, Beck LH. How Times Have Changed! A Cornucopia of Antigens for Membranous Nephropathy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:800242. [PMID: 34899763 PMCID: PMC8662735 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.800242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of the major target antigen phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in the majority of primary (idiopathic) cases of membranous nephropathy (MN) has been followed by the rapid identification of numerous minor antigens that appear to define phenotypically distinct forms of disease. This article serves to review all the known antigens that have been shown to localize to subepithelial deposits in MN, as well as the distinctive characteristics associated with each subtype of MN. We will also shed light on the novel proteomic approaches that have allowed identification of the most recent antigens. The paradigm of an antigen normally expressed on the podocyte cell surface leading to in-situ immune complex formation, complement activation, and subsequent podocyte injury will be discussed and challenged in light of the current repertoire of multiple MN antigens. Since disease phenotypes associated with each individual target antigens can often blur the distinction between primary and secondary disease, we encourage the use of antigen-based classification of membranous nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laith F. Al-Rabadi
- Department of Internal Medicine (Nephrology & Hypertension), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Laurence H. Beck
- Department of Medicine (Nephrology), Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
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24
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Clinical characteristics and outcomes of idiopathic membranous nephropathy with glomerular IgM deposits. Clin Exp Med 2021; 22:455-464. [PMID: 34698950 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-021-00768-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Glomerular IgM deposition is commonly shown in idiopathic membranous nephropathy, but the clinicopathological features and outcomes of IMN with IgM deposition are unclear. This single-center prospective cohort study enrolled 210 patients with biopsy-proven IMN from January 2016 to December 2018. Clinicopathological features, treatment responses, and kidney outcomes were compared between patients with and without IgM deposition. In total, 76 (36.2%) patients show glomerular IgM deposition. Patients with IgM deposition were younger (45 ± 13.30 vs. 50.59 ± 13.65 years, P = 0.006), had a higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (100.03 [81.31-111.37] vs. 92.67 [74.71-106.63] mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.041), and had a lower proportion of nephrotic syndrome (60.5% vs. 75.4%, P = 0.024) at the time of kidney biopsy. Patients with IgM deposition had a significantly higher proportion of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) lesions (27.6% vs. 13.4%, P = 0.011) and C1q deposition (72.4% vs. 57.5%, P = 0.032). Although the treatments and initial treatment responses were comparable, patients with glomerular IgM deposition had a significantly greater proportion of eGFR decline of ≥ 5 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year (log-rank test, P < 0.001) and eGFR decrease of ≥ 10% from baseline (log-rank test, P = 0.003). Cox regression analysis showed that IgM deposition was an independent risk factor of eGFR decline of ≥ 5 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year (HR, 2.442; 95% CI, 1.550-3.848, P < 0.001) and eGFR decline by ≥ 10% from baseline (HR, 2.629; 95% CI, 1.578-4.385, P < 0.001) during follow-up. IgM deposition in the glomeruli is an independent risk factor for decreased renal function in patients with IMN.
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25
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Lerner GB, Virmani S, Henderson JM, Francis JM, Beck LH. A conceptual framework linking immunology, pathology, and clinical features in primary membranous nephropathy. Kidney Int 2021; 100:289-300. [PMID: 33857571 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Primary membranous nephropathy is a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome. The field took a major step forward with the identification of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as a target antigen in the majority of cases and with the ability to measure circulating autoantibodies to PLA2R. Since then, the existence of additional target antigens such as thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A, exostosin 1 and 2, neural EGFL like 1, and semaphorin 3B has been demonstrated. The ability to detect and monitor levels of circulating autoantibodies has opened a new window onto the humoral aspect of primary membranous nephropathy. Clinicians now rely on clinical parameters such as proteinuria, as well as levels of circulating autoantibodies against PLA2R and the results of immunofluorescence staining for PLA2R within kidney biopsy tissue, to guide the management of this disease. The relationship between immunologic and clinical disease course is consistent, but not necessarily intuitive. In addition, kidney biopsy provides only a single snapshot of disease that needs to be interpreted in light of changing clinical and serological findings. A clear understanding of these dynamic parameters is essential for staging, treatment, and management of this disease. This review aims to shed light on current knowledge regarding the development and time course of changes in the serum levels of autoantibodies against PLA2R, proteinuria, and histological findings that underlie the pathophysiology of primary membranous nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel B Lerner
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Samarth Virmani
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Joel M Henderson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jean M Francis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laurence H Beck
- Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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26
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Abstract
Proteases play a central role in regulating renal pathophysiology and are increasingly evaluated as actionable drug targets. Here, we review the role of proteolytic systems in inflammatory kidney disease. Inflammatory kidney diseases are associated with broad dysregulations of extracellular and intracellular proteolysis. As an example of a proteolytic system, the complement system plays a significant role in glomerular inflammatory kidney disease and is currently under clinical investigation. Based on two glomerular kidney diseases, lupus nephritis, and membranous nephropathy, we portrait two proteolytic pathomechanisms and the role of the complement system. We discuss how profiling proteolytic activity in patient samples could be used to stratify patients for more targeted interventions in inflammatory kidney diseases. We also describe novel comprehensive, quantitative tools to investigate the entirety of proteolytic processes in a tissue sample. Emphasis is placed on mass spectrometric approaches that enable the comprehensive analysis of the complement system, as well as protease activities and regulation in general.
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27
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Abstract
The identification of the phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 7A (THSD7A) as podocyte antigens in adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) has strongly impacted both experimental and clinical research on this disease. Evidence has been furnished that podocyte-directed autoantibodies can cause MN, and novel PLA2R- and THSD7A-specific animal models have been developed. Today, measurement of serum autoantibody levels and staining of kidney biopsies for the target antigens guides MN diagnosis and treatment worldwide. Additionally, anti-PLA2R antibodies have been proven to be valuable prognostic biomarkers in MN. Despite these impressive advances, a variety of questions regarding the disease pathomechanisms, clinical use of antibody measurement, and future treatments remain unanswered. In this review, we will outline recent advances made in the field of MN and discuss open questions and perspectives with a focus on novel antigen identification, mechanisms of podocyte injury, clinical use of antibody measurement to guide diagnosis and treatment, and the potential of innovative, pathogenesis-based treatment strategies.
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28
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Mechanisms of Primary Membranous Nephropathy. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11040513. [PMID: 33808418 PMCID: PMC8065962 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease of the kidney glomerulus and one of the leading causes of nephrotic syndrome. The disease exhibits heterogenous outcomes with approximately 30% of cases progressing to end-stage renal disease. The clinical management of MN has steadily advanced owing to the identification of autoantibodies to the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in 2009 and thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) in 2014 on the podocyte surface. Approximately 50–80% and 3–5% of primary MN (PMN) cases are associated with either anti-PLA2R or anti-THSD7A antibodies, respectively. The presence of these autoantibodies is used for MN diagnosis; antibody levels correlate with disease severity and possess significant biomarker values in monitoring disease progression and treatment response. Importantly, both autoantibodies are causative to MN. Additionally, evidence is emerging that NELL-1 is associated with 5–10% of PMN cases that are PLA2R- and THSD7A-negative, which moves us one step closer to mapping out the full spectrum of PMN antigens. Recent developments suggest exostosin 1 (EXT1), EXT2, NELL-1, and contactin 1 (CNTN1) are associated with MN. Genetic factors and other mechanisms are in place to regulate these factors and may contribute to MN pathogenesis. This review will discuss recent developments over the past 5 years.
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29
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Complement-mediated kidney diseases. Mol Immunol 2020; 128:175-187. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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30
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Feng Z, Liu W, Jiang HX, Dai H, Gao C, Dong Z, Gao Y, Liu F, Zhang Z, Zhao Q, Zhang L, Liu B. How Does Herbal Medicine Treat Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy? Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:994. [PMID: 32719601 PMCID: PMC7350518 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) has made increasing progress in mechanism and treatment research. Herbal medicine is gradually being accepted as an alternative therapy in treating IMN. However, the intervention mechanism of herbal medicine in the treatment of membranous nephropathy is still unclear. In this review, we summarize some achievements of herb medicine in treating IMN and discuss the research direction of herb in IMN. Finally, we propose the dilemma about the study on the treatment of IMN with herb medicine. We hope that this article can bring some thoughts for clinical and scientific researchers on the treatment of IMN with herb medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhendong Feng
- Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Pinggu Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Han Xue Jiang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haoran Dai
- Shunyi Branch, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Gao
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | | | - Yu Gao
- Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qihan Zhao
- Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Pinggu Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Baoli Liu
- Department of Nephropathy, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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31
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Pisarek-Horowitz A, Fan X, Kumar S, Rasouly HM, Sharma R, Chen H, Coser K, Bluette CT, Hirenallur-Shanthappa D, Anderson SR, Yang H, Beck LH, Bonegio RG, Henderson JM, Berasi SP, Salant DJ, Lu W. Loss of Roundabout Guidance Receptor 2 (Robo2) in Podocytes Protects Adult Mice from Glomerular Injury by Maintaining Podocyte Foot Process Structure. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2020; 190:799-816. [PMID: 32220420 PMCID: PMC7217334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Roundabout guidance receptor 2 (ROBO2) plays an important role during early kidney development. ROBO2 is expressed in podocytes, inhibits nephrin-induced actin polymerization, down-regulates nonmuscle myosin IIA activity, and destabilizes kidney podocyte adhesion. However, the role of ROBO2 during kidney injury, particularly in mature podocytes, is not known. Herein, we report that loss of ROBO2 in podocytes [Robo2 conditional knockout (cKO) mouse] is protective from glomerular injuries. Ultrastructural analysis reveals that Robo2 cKO mice display less foot process effacement and better-preserved slit-diaphragm density compared with wild-type littermates injured by either protamine sulfate or nephrotoxic serum (NTS). The Robo2 cKO mice also develop less proteinuria after NTS injury. Further studies reveal that ROBO2 expression in podocytes is up-regulated after glomerular injury because its expression levels are higher in the glomeruli of NTS injured mice and passive Heymann membranous nephropathy rats. Moreover, the amount of ROBO2 in the glomeruli is also elevated in patients with membranous nephropathy. Finally, overexpression of ROBO2 in cultured mouse podocytes compromises cell adhesion. Taken together, these findings suggest that kidney injury increases glomerular ROBO2 expression that might compromise podocyte adhesion and, thus, loss of Robo2 in podocytes could protect from glomerular injury by enhancing podocyte adhesion that helps maintain foot process structure. Our findings also suggest that ROBO2 is a therapeutic target for podocyte injury and podocytopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pisarek-Horowitz
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Xueping Fan
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sudhir Kumar
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hila M Rasouly
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Richa Sharma
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Hui Chen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kathryn Coser
- Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Sarah R Anderson
- Global Pathology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut
| | - Hongying Yang
- Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Laurence H Beck
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ramon G Bonegio
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Joel M Henderson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Stephen P Berasi
- Centers for Therapeutic Innovation, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - David J Salant
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Weining Lu
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.
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32
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Guo N, Cao Y, Dai H, Yuan L, Shi L, Zhang Y. Anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor (Anti-PLA2R) Antibody in Diagnosis and Treatment of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy: A Single-Center Observational Study in China. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25:9364-9368. [PMID: 31813930 PMCID: PMC6921695 DOI: 10.12659/msm.917732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to observe the concentration of serum anti-PLA2R antibody in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) patients and analyze its relationship with clinical and laboratory parameters. Material/Methods We treated 72 patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy diagnosed by renal biopsy; all these patients who presented nephrotic syndrome were enrolled for investigation, and then underwent combination therapy with prednisone and cyclosporine A for 6 months. We collected data on 24-h total proteinuria (TUpro), creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), and serum albumin (Alb) levels before and after immunosuppressive treatment. Serum anti-PLA2R antibody was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Fifty-six out of 72 IMN patients presented positive serum anti-PLA2R antibody. The titer of anti-PLA2R antibody was significantly correlated with both TUpro and serum Alb levels of pre- and post-therapeutic values in IMN (P<0.05), but did not have a relationship with Ccr (P>0.05). In comparison with the anti-PLA2R antibody-negative group, there were significantly higher TUpro and lower Alb levels in the anti-PLA2R antibody-positive group (P<0.05). However, Ccr was comparatively lower in the anti-PLA2R antibody-positive group, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were 24 patients with negative anti-PLA2R antibody and 14 patients had complete remission in the positive anti-PLA2R antibody group, while anti-PLA2R antibody of all 14 patients became negative. Eight out of 16 patients without anti-PLA2R antibody went into complete remission. Conclusions Serum anti-PLA2R antibody, as determined by non-invasive technique, is a specific biomarker for diagnosis of IMN. Our results suggest that serum anti-PLA2R antibody has great potential to guide clinical diagnosis and treatment, as well as prognosis determination, in IMN patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naifeng Guo
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Yingjie Cao
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Houyong Dai
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Li Yuan
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Lan Shi
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
| | - Yide Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China (mainland)
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A novel mouse model of phospholipase A2 receptor 1-associated membranous nephropathy mimics podocyte injury in patients. Kidney Int 2019; 97:913-919. [PMID: 32033781 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2019.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) is the major autoantigen in patients suffering from membranous nephropathy. To date, the lack of endogenous glomerular expression of PLA2R1 in mice and rats has impeded the establishment of PLA2R1-dependent animal models of this disease. Here, we generated a transgenic mouse line expressing murine full-length PLA2R1 in podocytes. Furthermore, expression of murine PLA2R1 did not result in any morphological disturbance as high-resolution confocal microscopy demonstrated an intact nephrin distribution with normal foot processes. Transfer of rabbit anti-mPLA2R1 antibodies to these mice induced nephrotic range proteinuria, hypercholesterolemia, and histomorphological signs of membranous nephropathy. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses revealed enhanced staining for murine PLA2R1 in the presence of unaffected staining for murine thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A in the diseased mice, resembling what is classically found in patients with PLA2R1-associated membranous nephropathy Thus, our mouse model of membranous nephropathy will allow investigation of PLA2R1-specific pathomechanisms and may help to develop and assess antigen-specific treatments in vivo.
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Cravedi P, Jarque M, Angeletti A, Favà À, Cantarelli C, Bestard O. Immune-Monitoring Disease Activity in Primary Membranous Nephropathy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2019; 6:241. [PMID: 31788474 PMCID: PMC6856075 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2019.00241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary membranous nephropathy (MN) is a glomerular disease mediated by autoreactive antibodies, being the main cause of nephrotic syndrome among adult patients. While the pathogenesis of MN is still controversial, the detection of autoantibodies against two specific glomerular antigens, phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type 1 domain containing 7A (THSD7A), together with the beneficial effect of therapies targeting B cells, have highlighted the main role of autoreactive B cells driving this renal disease. In fact, the detection of PLA2R-specific IgG4 antibodies has resulted in a paradigm shift regarding the diagnosis as well as a better prediction of the progression and recurrence of primary MN. Nevertheless, some patients do not show remission of the nephrotic syndrome or do rapidly recur after immunosuppression withdrawal, regardless the absence of detectable anti-PLA2R antibodies, thus highlighting the need of other immune biomarkers for MN risk-stratification. Notably, the exclusive evaluation of circulating antibodies may significantly underestimate the magnitude of the global humoral memory immune response since it may exclude the role of antigen-specific memory B cells. Therefore, the assessment of PLA2R-specific B-cell immune responses using novel technologies in a functional manner may provide novel insight on the pathogenic mechanisms of B cells triggering MN as well as refine current immune-risk stratification solely based on circulating autoantibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cravedi
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Marta Jarque
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Angeletti
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Àlex Favà
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Chiara Cantarelli
- UO Nefrologia, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Oriol Bestard
- Experimental Nephrology Laboratory, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain.,Kidney Transplant Unit, Nephrology Department, Bellvitge University Hospital, Barcelona University, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
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35
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Liu W, Gao C, Dai H, Zheng Y, Dong Z, Gao Y, Liu F, Zhang Z, Liu Z, Liu W, Liu B, Liu Q, Shi J. Immunological Pathogenesis of Membranous Nephropathy: Focus on PLA2R1 and Its Role. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1809. [PMID: 31447839 PMCID: PMC6691064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the major cause of nephrotic syndrome with special pathological features, caused by the formation of immune complexes in the space between podocytes and the glomerular basement membrane. In idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) the immune complexes are formed by circulating antibodies binding mainly to one of two naturally-expressed podocyte antigens: the M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1) and the Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A). Formation of antibodies against PLA2R1 is much more common, accounting for 70-80% of IMN. However, the mechanism of anti-podocyte antibody production in IMN is still unclear. In this review, we emphasize that the exposure of PLA2R1 is critical for triggering the pathogenesis of PLA2R1-associated MN, and propose the potential association between inflammation, pollution and PLA2R1. Our review aims to clarify the current research of these precipitating factors in a way that may suggest future directions for discovering the pathogenesis of MN, leading to additional therapeutic targets and strategies for the prevention and early treatment of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Gao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haoran Dai
- Shunyi Branch, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaocheng Dong
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Gao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | | | - Weijing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Baoli Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingquan Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jialan Shi
- Departments of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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36
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Abstract
Accounting for about 20 to 50% of cases of primary nephrotic syndrome, membranous nephropathy (MN) is the leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. A rat model created nearly 60 years ago to research the primary MN disorder, Heymann nephritis, has provided us with a plethora of important information. Recently, our knowledge about MN has dramatically progressed. Heymann nephritis and human MN are now known to share a high degree of similarity in pathogenesis. This review summarizes our current understanding of MN pathogenesis while focusing particularly on the immunological aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin'ichi Akiyama
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Enyu Imai
- Nakayamadera Imai Clinic, Takarazuka, Hyōgo, Japan
| | - Shoichi Maruyama
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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37
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Tsai SF, Wu MJ, Chen CH. Low serum C3 level, high neutrophil-lymphocyte-ratio, and high platelet-lymphocyte-ratio all predicted poor long-term renal survivals in biopsy-confirmed idiopathic membranous nephropathy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6209. [PMID: 30996263 PMCID: PMC6470169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42689-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN) is the major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Recent guidelines suggest limiting immunosuppressants only to high risk patients for ESRD. The present study is aimed at identifying new predictors for the renal outcome of iMN patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study covering a period from January 2003 to December 2013. We enrolled participants who had received their first renal biopsy at our medical center in Taiwan with the diagnosis of iMN. Clinical, pathological and laboratory data were collected from medical records. Analyses with Mann-Whitney U test was used for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables. The Kaplan-Meier curve was used for the analyses of patient survival and renal survival. Youden index was used for evaluating the performance of a dichotomous diagnostic test for renal and patient outcomes. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to determine factors affecting renal survival.A total of 99 patients with renal biopsy-confirmed idiopathic iMNs were enrolled. C3 level ≤114 mg/dl predicted patient outcome (p < 0.001) with good predictive power (AUC = 0.736). The univariate analysis showed that risk factors for poor renal outcome were older age (HR = 1.04, p = 0.002), high BUN (HR = 1.03, p < 0.001), poor baseline renal function (HR = 1.30 and p < 0.001 for higher serum creatinine; HR = 0.97 and p < 0.001 for higher eGFR; HR = 1.06 and p < 0.001 for urine PCR), C3 ≤ 93.4 mg/dl (HR = 2.15, p = 0.017), NLR > 3.34 (HR = 3.30, p < 0.001) and PLR > 14.48 (HR = 2.54, p = 0.003). Stage of iMN did not fully account for the risk of ESRD. This is the first evidence that serum levels of C3 ≤ 93.4 mg/dl predicted poor renal outcomes with good predictive power. Easily obtained markers, NLR > 3.34 also predicted poor renal outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shang-Feng Tsai
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ju Wu
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Lilfe Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsu Chen
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. .,Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan. .,School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. .,Department of Lilfe Science, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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38
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Thurman JM, Yapa R. Complement Therapeutics in Autoimmune Disease. Front Immunol 2019; 10:672. [PMID: 31001274 PMCID: PMC6456694 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.00672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Many autoimmune diseases are characterized by generation of autoantibodies that bind to host proteins or deposit within tissues as a component of immune complexes. The autoantibodies can activate the complement system, which can mediate tissue damage and trigger systemic inflammation. Complement inhibitory drugs may, therefore, be beneficial across a large number of different autoimmune diseases. Many new anti-complement drugs that target specific activation mechanisms or downstream activation fragments are in development. Based on the shared pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, some of these complement inhibitory drugs may provide benefit across multiple different diseases. In some antibody-mediated autoimmune diseases, however, unique features of the autoantibodies, the target antigens, or the affected tissues may make it advantageous to block individual components or pathways of the complement system. This paper reviews the evidence that complement is involved in various autoimmune diseases, as well as the studies that have examined whether or not complement inhibitors are effective for treating these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Thurman
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Roshini Yapa
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, United States
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von Haxthausen F, Reinhard L, Pinnschmidt HO, Rink M, Soave A, Hoxha E, Stahl RAK. Antigen-Specific IgG Subclasses in Primary and Malignancy-Associated Membranous Nephropathy. Front Immunol 2018; 9:3035. [PMID: 30619370 PMCID: PMC6306563 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease caused by binding of circulating antibodies to podocyte antigens in the kidney. For decades and still today primary MN has been considered to have an unspecified IgG4-driven autoimmune genesis, while secondary MN has been associated with other diseases, most notably cancer, and not linked to IgG4. Immunologic mechanisms of primary and malignancy-associated MN are assumed to be different, however, this has never been systematically evaluated. The identification of Phospholipase A2 Receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and Thrombospondin Type-1 Domain-Containing 7A (THSD7A) as target antigens in MN allows a pathogenesis-driven differential diagnosis. Recent data showing a molecular link between increased THSD7A-expression in tumors and THSD7A-antibody positive MN suggest a similar pathogenesis of malignancy-associated and primary MN. In order to better define the underlying immunologic processes, we systematically analyzed circulating antigen-specific IgG subclasses in the serum of 76 patients with PLA2R1-associated MN and 41 patients with THSD7A-associated MN in relationship to concurrent malignancy and disease outcome. Twenty-three patients in the study had malignancy-associated MN. We analyzed antigen-specific IgG subclasses in the serum of all patients at baseline and in 55 patients during follow-up by Western blot applying antigens derived from human kidney and lung. At baseline all 117 patients were positive for IgG4-antibodies against either PLA2R1 or THSD7A, while IgG3, IgG1, and IgG2-antibodies were found in 87, 72, and 26% of patients, respectively. There were no differences in the IgG subclass distribution between patients with primary vs. cancer-associated MN and no association with disease outcome. Moreover, levels of antigen-specific IgG4-antibodies were not different between primary and malignancy-associated MN and levels of all IgG subclasses did not differ between these groups. Both podocytes and lung bronchioles showed expression of both PLA2R1 and THSD7A when analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Every antigen-specific IgG subclass showed identical binding in both organs and autoantibodies bound the respective antigen only under non-reducing conditions. We conclude that antigen-specific IgG subclasses do not differentiate primary from malignancy-associated MN or predict disease prognosis. These data support the view that one common pathway may lead to primary and cancer-associated MN induced by PLA2R1- or THSD7A-antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska von Haxthausen
- III. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Linda Reinhard
- III. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hans O Pinnschmidt
- Institut für Medizinische Biometrie & Epidemiologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Rink
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Armin Soave
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Urologie, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elion Hoxha
- III. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rolf A K Stahl
- III. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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40
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Tomas NM, Meyer-Schwesinger C, von Spiegel H, Kotb AM, Zahner G, Hoxha E, Helmchen U, Endlich N, Koch-Nolte F, Stahl RAK. A Heterologous Model of Thrombospondin Type 1 Domain-Containing 7A-Associated Membranous Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2017; 28:3262-3277. [PMID: 28814510 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2017010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) is a target for autoimmunity in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN). Circulating autoantibodies from patients with THSD7A-associated MN have been demonstrated to cause MN in mice. However, THSD7A-associated MN is a rare disease, preventing the use of patient antibodies for larger experimental procedures. Therefore, we generated antibodies against the human and mouse orthologs of THSD7A in rabbits by coimmunization with the respective cDNAs. Injection of these anti-THSD7A antibodies into mice induced a severe nephrotic syndrome with proteinuria, weight gain, and hyperlipidemia. Immunofluorescence analyses revealed granular antigen-antibody complexes in a subepithelial location along the glomerular filtration barrier 14 days after antibody injection, and immunohistochemistry for rabbit IgG and THSD7A as well as ultrastructural analyses showed the typical characteristics of human MN. Mice injected with purified IgG from rabbit serum that was taken before immunization failed to develop any of these changes. Notably, MN developed in the absence of detectable complement activation, and disease was strain dependent. In vitro, anti-THSD7A antibodies caused cytoskeletal rearrangement and activation of focal adhesion signaling. Knockdown of the THSD7A ortholog, thsd7aa, in zebrafish larvae resulted in altered podocyte differentiation and impaired glomerular filtration barrier function, with development of pericardial edema, suggesting an important role of THSD7A in glomerular filtration barrier integrity. In summary, our study introduces a heterologous mouse model that allows further investigation of the molecular events that underlie MN.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ahmed M Kotb
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; and.,Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | | | | | - Nicole Endlich
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; and
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Nolin AC, Mulhern RM, Panchenko MV, Pisarek-Horowitz A, Wang Z, Shirihai O, Borkan SC, Havasi A. Proteinuria causes dysfunctional autophagy in the proximal tubule. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2016; 311:F1271-F1279. [PMID: 27582098 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00125.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteinuria is a major risk factor for chronic kidney disease progression. Furthermore, exposure of proximal tubular epithelial cells to excess albumin promotes tubular atrophy and fibrosis, key predictors of progressive organ dysfunction. However, the link between proteinuria and tubular damage is unclear. We propose that pathological albumin exposure impairs proximal tubular autophagy, an essential process for recycling damaged organelles and toxic intracellular macromolecules. In both mouse primary proximal tubule and immortalized human kidney cells, albumin exposure decreased the number of autophagosomes, visualized by the autophagosome-specific fluorescent markers monodansylcadaverine and GFP-LC3, respectively. Similarly, renal cortical tissue harvested from proteinuric mice contained reduced numbers of autophagosomes on electron micrographs, and immunoblots showed reduced steady-state LC3-II content. Albumin exposure decreased autophagic flux in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner as assessed by LC3-II accumulation rate in the presence of bafilomycin, an H+-ATPase inhibitor that prevents lysosomal LC3-II degradation. In addition, albumin treatment significantly increased the half-life of radiolabeled long-lived proteins, indicating that the primary mechanism of degradation, autophagy, is dysfunctional. In vitro, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation, a potent autophagy inhibitor, suppressed autophagy as a result of intracellular amino acid accumulation from lysosomal albumin degradation. mTOR activation was demonstrated by the increased phosphorylation of its downstream target, S6K, with free amino acid or albumin exposure. We propose that excess albumin uptake and degradation inhibit proximal tubule autophagy via an mTOR-mediated mechanism and contribute to progressive tubular injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela C Nolin
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Ryan M Mulhern
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maria V Panchenko
- Department of Pathology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts; and
| | | | - Zhiyong Wang
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Orian Shirihai
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Steven C Borkan
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Andrea Havasi
- Renal Section, Department of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts;
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42
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Bobkova IN, Kakhsurueva PA, Stavrovskaya EV. [Idiopathic membranous nephropathy: Evolution in understanding the problem]. TERAPEVT ARKH 2016; 88:89-94. [PMID: 27489901 DOI: 10.17116/terarkh201688689-94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The review highlights the evolution of ideas on the. mechanisms responsible for the 'development of membranous nephropathy(MN), glomerulopathy that is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Primary emphasis is placed on the primary form of MN. The important step to understanding the nature of this clinical and morphological form of glomerulonephritis is to create its animal model (Heymann nephritis), then to decipher the mechanisms of immune complex damage (complement activation,a role of cellular immunity), and to identify autoantigens responsible for the development of idiopathic MN in man (podocyteneutral endopeptidase, transmembrane M-type phospholipase A2 receptor, thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A. The findings constituted the basis for developing current methods for the diagnosis and treatment of MN, including the pathogenetically sound inhibition of autoantibody production, as well as a molecular orientation effect on podocyte dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- I N Bobkova
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - P A Kakhsurueva
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
| | - E V Stavrovskaya
- I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia
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43
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Tomas NM, Hoxha E, Reinicke AT, Fester L, Helmchen U, Gerth J, Bachmann F, Budde K, Koch-Nolte F, Zahner G, Rune G, Lambeau G, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Stahl RAK. Autoantibodies against thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A induce membranous nephropathy. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:2519-32. [PMID: 27214550 DOI: 10.1172/jci85265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, and one-third of patients develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Circulating autoantibodies against the podocyte surface antigens phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and the recently identified thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) are assumed to cause the disease in the majority of patients. The pathogenicity of these antibodies, however, has not been directly proven. Here, we have reported the analysis and characterization of a male patient with THSD7A-associated MN who progressed to ESRD and subsequently underwent renal transplantation. MN rapidly recurred after transplantation. Enhanced staining for THSD7A was observed in the kidney allograft, and detectable anti-THSD7A antibodies were present in the serum before and after transplantation, suggesting that these antibodies induced a recurrence of MN in the renal transplant. In contrast to PLA2R1, THSD7A was expressed on both human and murine podocytes, enabling the evaluation of whether anti-THSD7A antibodies cause MN in mice. We demonstrated that human anti-THSD7A antibodies specifically bind to murine THSD7A on podocyte foot processes, induce proteinuria, and initiate a histopathological pattern that is typical of MN. Furthermore, anti-THSD7A antibodies induced marked cytoskeletal rearrangement in primary murine glomerular epithelial cells as well as in human embryonic kidney 293 cells. Our findings support a causative role of anti-THSD7A antibodies in the development of MN.
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44
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Li X, Wei D, Zhou Z, Wang B, Xu Y, Pan J, Yang C, Lu J, Qiu Y. Anti-PLA2R Antibodies in Chinese Patients with Membranous Nephropathy. Med Sci Monit 2016; 22:1630-6. [PMID: 27179439 PMCID: PMC4913829 DOI: 10.12659/msm.896090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKROUND ~This study used two standardized methods to evaluate anti-PLA2R antibody in serum of primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) among Chinese patients to determine Anti-PLA2R antibody distribution and whether immunological reactivity reflected by antibody titer correlates with kidney function parameters. MATERIAL AND METHOD ~Overall, 82 subjects with biopsy-proven primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) , 22 cases with secondary membranous nephropathy (SMN), 40 non-MN patients with established glomerulonephritis, 20 healthy volunteers were recruited from the Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, China. Anti-PLA2R antibody in the serum of each patient was evaluated by both recombinant cell-based indirect immunofluorescence assay (RC-IFA) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Kidney function was assessed by proteinuria for 24 hours, serum albumin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatine, serum cystatin C. We assessed the correlation between anti-PLA2R antibody levels and clinical parameter in the PMN patients. RESULTS ~ Fifty-three patients with PMN (64.6%) were positive for anti-PLA2R antibody. The level of antibody determined by RC-IFA ranged from 1:10 to 1:1000 and 0 to 1423 RU/ml by ELISA. The two anti-PLA2R test systems correlated very well with each other and reached an agreement of 95.7% for PMN patients. The level of antibody detected by ELISA in patients with PMN also significantly correlated with proteinuria and nephritic-range proteinuria (> 3.5g/day) . CONCLUSIONS ~Anti-PLA2R antibody is sensitive and extremely specific for diagnosis of Chinese patients with primary membranous nephropathy. Concentration of autoantibody against PLA2R is an ideal marker for monitoring the activity of immunological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Dong Wei
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Zhanmei Zhou
- Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Baoguo Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Ya Xu
- , EUROIMMUN Medical Diagnostics (China) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China (mainland)
| | - Jie Pan
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Chunli Yang
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Jie Lu
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
| | - Yurong Qiu
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Nangfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China (mainland)
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Borza DB. Alternative Pathway Dysregulation and the Conundrum of Complement Activation by IgG4 Immune Complexes in Membranous Nephropathy. Front Immunol 2016; 7:157. [PMID: 27199983 PMCID: PMC4842769 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN), a major cause of nephrotic syndrome, is a non-inflammatory immune kidney disease mediated by IgG antibodies that form glomerular subepithelial immune complexes. In primary MN, autoantibodies target proteins expressed on the podocyte surface, often phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1). Pathology is driven by complement activation, leading to podocyte injury and proteinuria. This article overviews the mechanisms of complement activation and regulation in MN, addressing the paradox that anti-PLA2R1 and other antibodies causing primary MN are predominantly (but not exclusively) IgG4, an IgG subclass that does not fix complement. Besides immune complexes, alterations of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) in MN may lead to impaired regulation of the alternative pathway (AP). The AP amplifies complement activation on surfaces insufficiently protected by complement regulatory proteins. Whereas podocytes are protected by cell-bound regulators, the GBM must recruit plasma factor H, which inhibits the AP on host surfaces carrying certain polyanions, such as heparan sulfate (HS) chains. Because HS chains present in the normal GBM are lost in MN, we posit that the local complement regulation by factor H may be impaired as a result. Thus, the loss of GBM HS in MN creates a micro-environment that promotes local amplification of complement activation, which in turn may be initiated via the classical or lectin pathways by subsets of IgG in immune complexes. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms of complement activation and dysregulation in MN is important for designing more effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorin-Bogdan Borza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA
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Nassirpour R, Homer BL, Mathur S, Li Y, Li Z, Brown T, Carraher D, Warneke J, Bailey S, Percival K, O'Neil SP, Whiteley LO. Identification of Promising Urinary MicroRNA Biomarkers in Two Rat Models of Glomerular Injury. Toxicol Sci 2015; 148:35-47. [PMID: 26253709 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNAs that regulate protein levels posttranscriptionally. miRNAs play important regulatory roles in many cellular processes and have been implicated in several diseases. Recent studies have reported significant levels of miRNAs in a variety of body fluids, raising the possibility that miRNAs could serve as useful biomarkers. Here, changes in miRNA expression patterns are described in 2 different rodent models of glomerular injury (acute puromycin aminonucleoside nephropathy and passive Heymann nephritis). By employing 2 different modes of glomerular insult, oxidative stress and immune-mediated toxicity, miRNA changes in both isolated glomeruli as well as urine specimens allow for identification of urinary miRNA biomarkers that are suggestive of drug-induced injury specifically to the glomerulus. Subsets of glomerular urinary miRNAs associated with these different modes of glomerular toxicity seem to be dependent on the mechanism of the induced injury, while 9 miRNAs that changed early in both glomerular and urine specimens were common to both studies. We further show that the miRNAs identified as mechanism-specific early glomerular injury biomarkers target key pathways and transcripts relevant to the type of insult, while the insult-independent changes might serve as ideal glomerular injury biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bruce L Homer
- *Drug Safety, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development
| | - Sachin Mathur
- Business Technology, Pfizer Research and Development, Andover, Massachusetts 01810; and
| | - Yizheng Li
- Business Technology, Pfizer Research and Development, Andover, Massachusetts 01810; and
| | - Zhonghan Li
- *Drug Safety, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development
| | - Tom Brown
- Drug Safety, Pfizer Research and Development, Groton, Connecticut 06340
| | | | - James Warneke
- *Drug Safety, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development
| | - Steven Bailey
- *Drug Safety, Pfizer Worldwide Research and Development
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Multi-antibody composition in lupus nephritis: isotype and antigen specificity make the difference. Autoimmun Rev 2015; 14:692-702. [PMID: 25888464 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 04/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Research on autoimmune processes involved in glomerulonephritis has been for years based on experimental models. Recent progress in proteomics has radically modified perspectives: laser microdissection and proteomics were crucial for an in vivo analysis of autoantibodies eluted from human biopsies. Lupus nephritis has been the subject of recent independent researches. Main topics have been the definition of renal autoimmune components in human lupus biopsies; methods were laser capture of glomeruli and/or of single cells (CD38+ or Ki-67+) from tubulointerstitial areas as starting step followed by elution and characterization of renal antibodies by proteomics. The innovative approach highlighted different panels of autoantibodies deposited in glomeruli and in tubulo-interstitial areas that actually represented the unique autoimmune components in these patients. IgG2 was the major isotype; new podocyte proteins (αenolase, annexin AI) and already known implanted molecules (DNA, histone 3, C1q) were their target antigens in glomeruli. Vimentin was the antigen in tubulo-interstitial areas. Matching renal autoantibodies with serum allowed the definition of a typical autoantibody serum map that included the same anti-αenolase, anti-annexin AI, anti-DNA, and anti-histone 3 IgG2 already detected in renal tissue. Serum levels of specific autoantibodies were tenfold increased in patients with lupus nephritis allowing a clear differentiation from both rheumatoid arthritis and other glomerulonephritis. In all cases, targeted antigens were characterized as components of lupus NETosis. Matching renal/serum autoantibody composition in vivo furnishes new insights on human lupus nephritis and allows to refine composition of circulating antibodies in patients with lupus. A thoughtful passage from bench to bedside of new knowledge would expand our clinical and therapeutic opportunities.
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Lai WL, Yeh TH, Chen PM, Chan CK, Chiang WC, Chen YM, Wu KD, Tsai TJ. Membranous nephropathy: a review on the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment. J Formos Med Assoc 2015; 114:102-11. [PMID: 25558821 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfma.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2014] [Revised: 11/07/2014] [Accepted: 11/12/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In adults, membranous nephropathy (MN) is a major cause of nephrotic syndrome. However, the etiology of approximately 75% of MN cases is idiopathic. Secondary causes of MN are autoimmune diseases, infection, drugs, and malignancy. The pathogenesis of MN involves formation of immune complex in subepithelial sites, but the definite mechanism is still unknown. There are three hypotheses about the formation of immune complex, including preformed immune complex, in situ immune-complex formation, and autoantibody against podocyte membrane antigen. The formation of immune complex initiates complement activation, which subsequently leads to glomerular damage. Recently, the antiphospholipase A2 receptor antibody was found to be associated with idiopathic MN. This finding may be useful in the diagnosis and prognosis of MN. The current treatment includes best supportive care, which consists of the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blockers, lipid-lowering agents, and optimal control of blood pressure. Immunosuppressive agents should be used for patients who suffer from refractory proteinuria or complications associated with nephrotic syndrome. Existing evidence supports the use of a combination of steroid and alkylating agents. This article reviews the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and the treatment of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ling Lai
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ting Hao Yeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ping Min Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chieh Kai Chan
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen Chih Chiang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Yung Ming Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kwan Dun Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tun Jun Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Abstract
Activation of the complement system is tightly regulated by plasma and cell-associated complement regulatory proteins (CRPs), such as factor H (fH), decay-accelerating factor, and membrane cofactor protein. Animal models of disease have provided considerable insights into the important roles for CRPs in the kidney. Mice deficient in fH have excessive fluid phase C3 activation and inactivation, leading to deposition of inactivated C3b in glomerular capillary walls (GCW), comparable with dense deposit disease. In contrast, when fH lacks C-terminal surface targeting regions, local activation on the GCW leads to a disease reminiscent of thrombotic microangiopathy. The uniquely rodent protein, CR1-related y (Crry), has features analogous to human membrane cofactor protein. Defective Crry leads to unrestricted alternative pathway activation in the tubulointerstitium, resulting in pathologic features ranging from thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), acute kidney injury, and tubulointerstitium nephritis. In the presence of initiators of the classic or lectin pathways, commonly in the form of immune complexes in human glomerular diseases, complement regulation is stressed, with the potential for recruitment of the spontaneously active alternative pathway. The threshold for this activation is set by CRPs; pathology is more likely when complement regulation is defective. Within the endocapillary region of the GCW, fH is key, while decay-accelerating factor and Crry are protective on mesangial cells and podocytes. Arguably, acquired alterations in these CRPs is a more common event, extending from pathologic states of cellular injury or production of inhibitory antibodies, to physiological fine tuning of the adaptive immune response.
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Abstract
As recently as 2002, most cases of primary membranous nephropathy (MN), a relatively common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, were considered idiopathic. We now recognize that MN is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which circulating autoantibodies bind to an intrinsic antigen on glomerular podocytes and form deposits of immune complexes in situ in the glomerular capillary walls. Here we define the clinical and pathological features of MN and describe the experimental models that enabled the discovery of the major target antigen, the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R). We review the pathophysiology of experimental MN and compare and contrast it with the human disease. We discuss the diagnostic value of serological testing for anti-PLA2R and tissue staining for the redistributed antigen, and their utility for differentiating between primary and secondary MN, and between recurrent MN after kidney transplant and de novo MN. We end with consideration of how knowledge of the antigen might direct future therapeutic strategies.
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