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Miao H, Zhang Y, Yu X, Zou L, Zhao Y. Membranous nephropathy: Systems biology-based novel mechanism and traditional Chinese medicine therapy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:969930. [PMID: 36176440 PMCID: PMC9513429 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.969930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a renal-limited non-inflammatory autoimmune disease in the glomerulus, which is the second or third main cause of end-stage kidney diseases in patients with primary glomerulonephritis. Substantial achievements have increased our understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of murine and human MN. The identification of nephritogenic autoantibodies against neutral endopeptidase, phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) antigens provide more specific concept-driven intervention strategies for treatments by specific B cell-targeting monoclonal antibodies to inhibit antibody production and antibody-antigen immune complex deposition. Furthermore, additional antibody specificities for antigens have been discovered, but their pathogenic effects are uncertain. Although anti-PLA2R and anti-THSD7A antibodies as a diagnostic marker is widely used in MN patients, many questions including autoimmune response development, antigenic epitopes, and podocyte damage signalling pathways remain unresolved. This review describes the current available evidence regarding both established and novel molecular mechanisms based on systems biology approaches (gut microbiota, long non-coding RNAs, metabolite biomarkers and DNA methylation) in MN, with an emphasis on clinical findings. This review further summarizes the applications of traditional Chinese medicines such as Tripterygium wilfordii and Astragalus membranaceus for MN treatment. Lastly, this review considers how the identification of novel antibodies/antigens and unresolved questions and future challenges reveal the pathogenesis of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yamei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Genetics & Key Disciplines of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoyong Yu
- Department of Nephrology, Shaanxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyong Yu, ; Liang Zou, ; Yingyong Zhao,
| | - Liang Zou
- School of Food and Bioengineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyong Yu, ; Liang Zou, ; Yingyong Zhao,
| | - Yingyong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Genetics & Key Disciplines of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital and Clinical Medical College of Chengdu University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyong Yu, ; Liang Zou, ; Yingyong Zhao,
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