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Kleer JS, Klehr J, Dubler D, Infanti L, Chizzolini C, Huynh-Do U, Ribi C, Trendelenburg M. Factor H-related protein 1 in systemic lupus erythematosus. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1447991. [PMID: 39136026 PMCID: PMC11317429 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1447991] [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: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Factor H (FH) is a major soluble inhibitor of the complement system and part of a family comprising five related proteins (FHRs 1-5). Deficiency of FHR1 was described to be linked to an elevated risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As FHR1 can partially antagonize the functionality of FH, an altered FHR1/FH ratio could not only enhance SLE vulnerability but also affect the disease expression. This study focuses on the analysis of FH and FHR1 at a protein level, and the occurrence of anti-FH autoantibodies (anti-FH) in a large cohort of SLE patients to explore their association with disease activity and/or expression. Methods We assessed FH and FHR1 levels in plasma from 378 SLE patients compared to 84 healthy controls (normal human plasma, NHP), and sera from another cohort of 84 healthy individuals (normal human serum, NHS), using RayBio® CFH and CFHR1 ELISA kits. Patients were recruited by the Swiss SLE Cohort Study (SSCS). Unmeasurable FHR1 levels were all confirmed by Western blot, and in a subgroup of patients by PCR. Anti-FH were measured in SLE patients with non-detectable FHR1 levels and matched control patients using Abnova's CFH IgG ELISA kit. Results Overall, FH and FHR1 levels were significantly higher in healthy controls, but there was no significant difference in FHR1/FH ratios between SLE patients and NHPs. However, SLE patients showed a significantly higher prevalence of undetectable FHR1 compared to all healthy controls (35/378 SLE patients versus 6/168 healthy controls; p= 0.0214, OR=2.751, 95% CI = 1.115 - 8.164), with a consistent trend across all ethnic subgroups. Levels of FH and FHR1, FHR1/FH ratios and absence of FHR1 were not consistently associated with disease activity and/or specific disease manifestations, but absence of FHR1 (primarily equivalent to CFHR1 deficiency) was linked to the presence of anti-FH in SLE patients (p=0.039). Conclusions Deficiency of FHR1 is associated with a markedly elevated risk of developing SLE. A small proportion of FHR1-deficient SLE patients was found to have autoantibodies against FH but did not show clinical signs of microangiopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica S. Kleer
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Klehr
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Denise Dubler
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Infanti
- Regional Blood Transfusion Service, Swiss Red Cross, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Carlo Chizzolini
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Uyen Huynh-Do
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Camillo Ribi
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marten Trendelenburg
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology, Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
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Yuan W, Xu W, Xu X, Qu B, Zhao F. Exploration of potential novel drug targets for diabetic retinopathy by plasma proteome screening. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11726. [PMID: 38778174 PMCID: PMC11111739 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62069-0] [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: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to identify novel potential drug targets for diabetic retinopathy (DR). A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed using protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) of 734 plasma proteins as the exposures and clinically diagnosed DR as the outcome. Genetic instruments for 734 plasma proteins were obtained from recently published genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and external plasma proteome data was retrieved from the Icelandic Decoding Genetics Study and UK Biobank Pharma Proteomics Project. Summary-level data of GWAS for DR were obtained from the Finngen Consortium, comprising 14,584 cases and 202,082 population controls. Steiger filtering, Bayesian co-localization, and phenotype scanning were used to further verify the causal relationships calculated by MR. Three significant (p < 6.81 × 10-5) plasma protein-DR pairs were identified during the primary MR analysis, including CFH (OR = 0.8; 95% CI 0.75-0.86; p = 1.29 × 10-9), B3GNT8 (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.05-1.12; p = 5.9 × 10-6) and CFHR4 (OR = 1.11; 95% CI 1.06-1.16; p = 1.95 × 10-6). None of the three proteins showed reverse causation. According to Bayesian colocalization analysis, CFH (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.534) and B3GNT8 (coloc.abf-PPH4 = 0.638) in plasma shared the same variant with DR. All three identified proteins were validated in external replication cohorts. Our research shows a cause-and-effect connection between genetically determined levels of CFH, B3GNT8 and CFHR4 plasma proteins and DR. The discovery implies that these proteins hold potential as drug target in the process of developing drugs to treat DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichen Yuan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bo Qu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China.
| | - Fangkun Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 102, Nanqi Road, Heping District, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
- Key Lens Research Laboratory of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China.
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Lee JH, Lee SH, Jeon C, Han J, Kim SH, Youn J, Park YS, Kim TJ, Kim JS, Jo S, Kim TH, Son CN. The complement factor H-related protein-5 (CFHR5) exacerbates pathological bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:571-583. [PMID: 38418621 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-024-02428-6] [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: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by excessive new bone formation. We previously reported that the complement factor H-related protein-5 (CFHR5), a member of the human factor H protein family, is significantly elevated in patients with AS compared to other rheumatic diseases. However, the pathophysiological mechanism underlying new bone formation by CFHR5 is not fully understood. In this study, we revealed that CFHR5 and proinflammatory cytokines (TNF, IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-23) were elevated in the AS group compared to the HC group. Correlation analysis revealed that CFHR5 levels were not significantly associated with proinflammatory cytokines, while CFHR5 levels in AS were only positively correlated with the high CRP group. Notably, treatment with soluble CFHR5 has no effect on clinical arthritis scores and thickness at hind paw in curdlan-injected SKG, but significantly increased the ectopic bone formation at the calcaneus and tibia bones of the ankle as revealed by micro-CT image and quantification. Basal CFHR5 expression was upregulated in AS-osteoprogenitors compared to control cells. Also, treatment with CFHR5 remarkedly induced bone mineralization status of AS-osteoprogenitors during osteogenic differentiation accompanied by MMP13 expression. We provide the first evidence demonstrating that CFHR5 can exacerbate the pathological bone formation of AS. Therapeutic modulation of CFHR5 could be promising for future treatment of AS. KEY MESSAGES: Serum level of CFHR5 is elevated and positively correlated with high CRP group of AS patients. Recombinant CFHR5 protein contributes to pathological bone formation in in vivo model of AS. CFHR5 is highly expressed in AS-osteoprogenitors compared to disease control. Recombinant CFHR5 protein increased bone mineralization accompanied by MMP13 in vitro model of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Hyun Lee
- Department of Rheumatology, Eulji Rheumatology Research Institute, Eulji University School of Medicine, 712 Dongil-Ro, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-Do, 11759, Republic of Korea
- Rheumarker Bio Inc, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hoon Lee
- Hanyang University Institute for Rheumatology Research (HYIRR), 222-1 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanhyeok Jeon
- Hanyang University Institute for Rheumatology Research (HYIRR), 222-1 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinil Han
- Gencurix Inc, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyon Kim
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeehee Youn
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye-Soo Park
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Jong Kim
- Department of Rheumatology, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Seo Kim
- Center for RNA Research, Institute for Basic Science, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsin Jo
- Hanyang University Institute for Rheumatology Research (HYIRR), 222-1 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, 22 Soonchunhyang-ro, Asan, Chungcheongnam-do, 31358, Republic of Korea.
| | - Tae-Hwan Kim
- Hanyang University Institute for Rheumatology Research (HYIRR), 222-1 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, 222-1 Wangsimni-Ro, Seongdong-Gu, Seoul, 04763, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chang-Nam Son
- Department of Rheumatology, Eulji Rheumatology Research Institute, Eulji University School of Medicine, 712 Dongil-Ro, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-Do, 11759, Republic of Korea.
- Rheumarker Bio Inc, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
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Iwafuchi Y, Morioka T, Oyama Y, Narita I. A case of non-lupus full-house nephropathy diagnosed by kidney biopsy but observed IgA nephropathy on second biopsy. CEN Case Rep 2024:10.1007/s13730-024-00860-8. [PMID: 38421587 DOI: 10.1007/s13730-024-00860-8] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
We describe a case of full-house nephropathy without any underlying disease, including systemic lupus erythematosus. A 40-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with mild proteinuria and microscopic hematuria. The patient was diagnosed with immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis with a predominant mesangioproliferative pattern based on renal histopathological results using full-house immunofluorescence staining. She showed no clinical criteria for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, except for kidney disorders, and tested negative for antinuclear antibodies throughout her clinical course. However, in the second kidney biopsy, no C1q or C4 were detected in the immunofluorescence study, suggesting an immunoglobulin A nephropathy-like pattern. The patient responded favorably to corticosteroid treatment. We found a heterozygous CFHR3-CFHR1 deletion. The association between full-house nephropathy and CFHR3-CFHR1 deletion is unknown, but its influence on the histological pattern in our case is suspected. This indicates the diversity in the pathogenesis of non-lupus full-house nephropathy and warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Iwafuchi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Koseiren Sanjo General Hospital, 5-1-62 Tsukanome, Sanjo, 955-0055, Japan.
| | - Tetsuo Morioka
- Department of Internal Medicine, Shinrakuen Hospital, Kidney Center3-3-11 Shindoriminami Nishi-Ku, Niigata, 950-2087, Japan
| | - Yuko Oyama
- Department of Internal Medicine, Koseiren Sanjo General Hospital, 5-1-62 Tsukanome, Sanjo, 955-0055, Japan
| | - Ichiei Narita
- Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 1-757 Asahimachi-Dori, Chuo-Ku, Niigata, 951-8510, Japan
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Mellors J, Carroll M. Direct enhancement of viral neutralising antibody potency by the complement system: a largely forgotten phenomenon. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:22. [PMID: 38200235 PMCID: PMC10781860 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05074-2] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Neutralisation assays are commonly used to assess vaccine-induced and naturally acquired immune responses; identify correlates of protection; and inform important decisions on the screening, development, and use of therapeutic antibodies. Neutralisation assays are useful tools that provide the gold standard for measuring the potency of neutralising antibodies, but they are not without limitations. Common methods such as the heat-inactivation of plasma samples prior to neutralisation assays, or the use of anticoagulants such as EDTA for blood collection, can inactivate the complement system. Even in non-heat-inactivated samples, the levels of complement activity can vary between samples. This can significantly impact the conclusions regarding neutralising antibody potency. Restoration of the complement system in these samples can be achieved using an exogenous source of plasma with preserved complement activity or with purified complement proteins. This can significantly enhance the neutralisation titres for some antibodies depending on characteristics such as antibody isotype and the epitope they bind, enable neutralisation with otherwise non-neutralising antibodies, and demonstrate a better relationship between in vitro and in vivo findings. In this review, we discuss the evidence for complement-mediated enhancement of antibody neutralisation against a range of viruses, explore the potential mechanisms which underpin this enhancement, highlight current gaps in the literature, and provide a brief summary of considerations for adopting this approach in future research applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack Mellors
- Centre for Human Genetics and the Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Miles Carroll
- Centre for Human Genetics and the Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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6
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Reed RM, Whyte MB, Goff LM. Cardiometabolic disease in Black African and Caribbean populations: an ethnic divergence in pathophysiology? Proc Nutr Soc 2023:1-11. [PMID: 38230432 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123004895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
In the UK, populations of Black African and Caribbean (BAC) ethnicity suffer higher rates of cardiometabolic disease than White Europeans (WE). Obesity, leading to increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and intrahepatic lipid (IHL), has long been associated with cardiometabolic risk, driving insulin resistance and defective fatty acid/lipoprotein metabolism. These defects are compounded by a state of chronic low-grade inflammation, driven by dysfunctional adipose tissue. Emerging evidence has highlighted associations between central complement system components and adipose tissue, fatty acid metabolism and inflammation; it may therefore sit at the intersection of various cardiometabolic disease risk factors. However, increasing evidence suggests an ethnic divergence in pathophysiology, whereby current theories fail to explain the high rates of cardiometabolic disease in BAC populations. Lower fasting and postprandial TAG has been reported in BAC, alongside lower VAT and IHL deposition, which are paradoxical to the high rates of cardiometabolic disease exhibited by this ethnic group. Furthermore, BAC have been shown to exhibit a more anti-inflammatory profile, with lower TNF-α and greater IL-10. In contrast, recent evidence has revealed greater complement activation in BAC compared to WE, suggesting its dysregulation may play a greater role in the high rates of cardiometabolic disease experienced by this population. This review outlines the current theories of how obesity is proposed to drive cardiometabolic disease, before discussing evidence for ethnic differences in disease pathophysiology between BAC and WE populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuben M Reed
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Martin B Whyte
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Louise M Goff
- Leicester Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
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7
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Holers VM. Complement therapeutics are coming of age in rheumatology. Nat Rev Rheumatol 2023; 19:470-485. [PMID: 37337038 DOI: 10.1038/s41584-023-00981-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
The complement system was described over 100 years ago, and it is well established that activation of this pathway accompanies the great majority of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. In addition, over three decades of work in murine models of human disease have nearly universally demonstrated that complement activation is upstream of tissue injury and the engagement of pro-inflammatory mechanisms such as the elaboration of cytokines and chemokines, as well as myeloid cell recruitment and activation. With that background, and taking advantage of advances in the development of biologic and small-molecule therapeutics, the creation and clinical evaluation of complement therapeutics is now rapidly expanding. This article reviews the current state of the complement therapeutics field, with a focus on their use in diseases cared for or consulted upon by rheumatologists. Included is an overview of the activation mechanisms and components of the system, in addition to the mechanisms by which the complement system interacts with other immune system constituents. The various therapeutic approaches to modulating the system in rheumatic and autoimmune diseases are reviewed. To understand how best to clinically assess the complement system, methods of its evaluation are described. Finally, next-generation therapeutic and diagnostic advances that can be envisioned for the future are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Michael Holers
- Medicine/Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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8
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Zhu XZ, Deng ZM, Dai FF, Liu H, Cheng YX. The impact of early pregnancy metabolic disorders on pregnancy outcome and the specific mechanism. Eur J Med Res 2023; 28:197. [PMID: 37355665 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-023-01161-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy. The most common causes of early miscarriage are chromosomal abnormalities of the embryo, maternal endocrine abnormalities, organ malformations, and abnormal immune factors. Late miscarriages are mostly caused by factors such as cervical insufficiency. However, the causes of 50% of miscarriages remain unknown. Recently, increasing attention has been given to the role of metabolic abnormalities in miscarriage. In this review, we mainly discuss the roles of four major metabolic pathways (glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism, and oxidation‒reduction balance) in miscarriage and the metabolism-related genes that lead to metabolic disorders in miscarriage. Depending on aetiology, the current treatments for miscarriage include hormonal and immunological drugs, as well as surgery, while there are few therapies for metabolism. Therefore, we also summarize the drugs for metabolism-related targets. The study of altered metabolism underlying miscarriage not only helps us to understand the mechanisms involved in miscarriage but also provides an important basis for clinical research on new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Zi Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Zhi-Min Deng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Fang-Fang Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Hua Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
| | - Yan-Xiang Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 99 Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
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Dubowsky JG, Estevez JJ, Craig JE, Appukuttan B, Carr JM. Disease profiles in the Indigenous Australian population are suggestive of a common complement control haplotype. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023:105453. [PMID: 37245779 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (respectfully referred to as Indigenous Australians herein) are disparately burdened by many infectious and chronic diseases relative to Australians with European genetic ancestry. Some of these diseases are described in other populations to be influenced by the inherited profile of complement genes. These include complement factor B, H, I and complement factor H-related (CFHR) genes that can contribute to a polygenic complotype. Here the focus is on the combined deletion of CFHR1 and 3 to form a common haplotype (CFHR3-1Δ). The prevalence of CFHR3-1Δ is high in people with Nigerian and African American genetic ancestry and correlates to a higher frequency and severity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but a lower prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and IgA-nephropathy (IgAN). This pattern of disease is similarly observed among Indigenous Australian communities. Additionally, the CFHR3-1Δ complotype is also associated with increased susceptibility to infection with pathogens, such as Neisseria meningitidis and Streptococcus pyogenes, which also have high incidences in Indigenous Australian communities. The prevalence of these diseases, while likely influenced by social, political, environmental and biological factors, including variants in other components of the complement system, may also be suggestive of the CFHR3-1Δ haplotype in Indigenous Australians. These data highlight a need to define the Indigenous Australian complotypes, which may lead to the discovery of new risk factors for common diseases and progress towards precision medicines for treating complement-associated diseases in Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Herein, the disease profiles suggestive of a common complement CFHR3-1Δ control haplotype are examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua G Dubowsky
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Public Health, and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jose J Estevez
- Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme, South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Flinders Centre for Ophthalmology, Eye and Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia; Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Optometry and Vision Science, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Jamie E Craig
- Flinders Centre for Ophthalmology, Eye and Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Binoy Appukuttan
- Molecular Medical Science, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jillian M Carr
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Public Health, and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
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Li QY, Lv JM, Liu XL, Li HY, Yu F. Association of C-reactive protein and complement factor H gene polymorphisms with risk of lupus nephritis in Chinese population. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:2934-2944. [PMID: 37215422 PMCID: PMC10198093 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i13.2934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Complement overactivation is a major driver of lupus nephritis (LN). Impaired interactions of C-reactive protein (CRP) with complement factor H (CFH) have been shown as a pathogenic mechanism that contributes to the overactivation of complement in LN. However, genetic variations of neither CRP nor CFH show consistent influences on the risk of LN.
AIM To examine whether genetic variations of CRP and CFH in combination can improve the risk stratification in Chinese population.
METHODS We genotyped six CRP single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1205, rs3093062, rs2794521, rs1800947, rs3093077, and rs1130864) and three CFH SNPs (rs482934, rs1061170, and rs1061147) in 270 LN patients and 303 healthy subjects.
RESULTS No linkage was found among CRP and CFH SNPs, indicating lack of genetic interactions between the two genes. Moreover, CRP and CFH SNPs, neither individually nor in combination, are associated with the risk or clinical manifestations of LN. Given the unambiguous pathogenic roles of the two genes.
CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the biological effects of most genetic variations of CRP and CFH on their expressions or activities are not sufficient to influence the disease course of LN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiu-Yu Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jian-Min Lv
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao-Ling Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
| | - Hai-Yun Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Feng Yu
- Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China
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11
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Goff LM, Davies K, Zelek WM, Kodosaki E, Hakim O, Lockhart S, O’Rahilly S, Morgan BP. Ethnic differences in complement system biomarkers and their association with metabolic health in men of Black African and White European ethnicity. Clin Exp Immunol 2023; 212:52-60. [PMID: 36722378 PMCID: PMC10081104 DOI: 10.1093/cei/uxad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation plays a fundamental role in the development of several metabolic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D); the complement system has been implicated in their development. People of Black African (BA) ethnicity are disproportionately affected by T2D and other metabolic diseases but the impact of ethnicity on the complement system has not been explored. We investigated ethnic differences in complement biomarkers and activation status between men of BA and White European (WE) ethnicity and explored their association with parameters of metabolic health. We measured a panel of 15 complement components, regulators, and activation products in fasting plasma from 89 BA and 96 WE men. Ethnic differences were statistically validated. Association of complement biomarkers with metabolic health indices (BMI, waist circumference, insulin resistance, and HbA1c) were assessed in the groups. Plasma levels of the key complement components C3 and C4, the regulators clusterin and properdin and the activation marker iC3b were significantly higher in BA compared to WE men after age adjustment, while FD levels were significantly lower. C3 and C4 levels positively correlated with some or all markers of metabolic dysfunction in both ethnic groups while FD was inversely associated with HbA1c in both groups, and clusterin and properdin were inversely associated with some markers of metabolic dysfunction only in the WE group. Our findings of increased levels of complement components and activation products in BA compared to WE men suggest differences in complement regulation that may impact susceptibility to poor metabolic health.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Goff
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Population & Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - K Davies
- Dementia Research Institute Cardiff, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - W M Zelek
- Dementia Research Institute Cardiff, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - E Kodosaki
- Dementia Research Institute Cardiff, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - O Hakim
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, School of Population & Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
- School of Life & Health Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, UK
| | - S Lockhart
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit & Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - S O’Rahilly
- MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit & Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - B P Morgan
- Dementia Research Institute Cardiff, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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12
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Moscvin M, Liacos CI, Chen T, Theodorakakou F, Fotiou D, Hossain S, Rowell S, Leblebjian H, Regan E, Czarnecki P, Bagnoli F, Bolli N, Richardson P, Rennke HG, Dimopoulos MA, Kastritis E, Bianchi G. Mutations in the alternative complement pathway in multiple myeloma patients with carfilzomib-induced thrombotic microangiopathy. Blood Cancer J 2023; 13:31. [PMID: 36849497 PMCID: PMC9971259 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-023-00802-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) has been reported to occur in multiple myeloma (MM) patients in association with treatment with carfilzomib, an irreversible proteasome inhibitor (PI). The hallmark of TMA is vascular endothelial damage leading to microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, platelet consumption, fibrin deposition and small-vessel thrombosis with resultant tissue ischemia. The molecular mechanisms underlying carfilzomib-associated TMA are not known. Germline mutations in the complement alternative pathway have been recently shown to portend increased risk for the development of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and TMA in the setting of allogeneic stem cell transplant in pediatric patients. We hypothesized that germline mutations in the complement alternative pathway may similarly predispose MM patients to carfilzomib-associated TMA. We identified 10 MM patients with a clinical diagnosis of TMA in the context of carfilzomib treatment and assessed for the presence of germline mutations in the complement alternative pathway. Ten, matched MM patients exposed to carfilzomib but without clinical TMA were used as negative controls. We identified a frequency of deletions in the complement Factor H genes 3 and 1 (delCFHR3-CFHR1) and genes 1 and 4 (delCFHR1-CFHR4) in MM patients with carfilzomib-associated TMA that was higher as compared to the general population and matched controls. Our data suggest that complement alternative pathway dysregulation may confer susceptibility to vascular endothelial injury in MM patients and predispose to development of carfilzomib-associated TMA. Larger, retrospective studies are needed to evaluate whether screening for complement mutations may be indicated to properly counsel patients about TMA risk with carfilzomib use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Moscvin
- Amyloidosis Program, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christine Ivy Liacos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Tianzeng Chen
- Amyloidosis Program, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Foteini Theodorakakou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Despina Fotiou
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Shahrier Hossain
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sean Rowell
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Houry Leblebjian
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eileen Regan
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter Czarnecki
- Renal Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Filippo Bagnoli
- Department of Oncology and Onco-Hematology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Hematology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Grande Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Niccolo' Bolli
- Department of Oncology and Onco-Hematology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Hematology Division, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Grande Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Paul Richardson
- Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Helmut G Rennke
- Amyloidosis Program, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Meletios A Dimopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Efstathios Kastritis
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Giada Bianchi
- Amyloidosis Program, Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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13
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Holers VM. Contributions of animal models to mechanistic understandings of antibody-dependent disease and roles of the amplification loop. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:181-193. [PMID: 36111456 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The complement system plays an important pathophysiologic role in human diseases associated with immune or ischemic insults. In addition to understanding the effector mechanisms that are important for the biological effects of the system, substantial efforts have gone into understanding which specific complement activation pathways generate these potent effects. These approaches include the use of gene-targeted mice and specific pathway inhibitors, as well as the integration of human disease genetic and biomarker studies. In some disease states, it is quite clear that the alternate pathway plays a unique role in the initiation of the complement system. However, although initially a widely unexpected finding, it has now been shown in many tissue-based disease models and in initial human studies that engagement of the amplification loop is also essential for tissue injury when the classical and/or lectin pathways initiate pathway activation through pathogenic autoantibodies. This review provides evidence for such a conclusion through animal models, focusing on pathogenic antibody passive transfer models but also other relevant experimental systems. These data, along with initial biomarkers and clinical trial outcomes in human diseases that are associated with pathogenic autoantibodies, suggest that targeting the alternative pathway amplification loop may have near-universal therapeutic utility for tissue-based diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Michael Holers
- Division of Rheumatology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
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14
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Lucientes-Continente L, Márquez-Tirado B, Goicoechea de Jorge E. The Factor H protein family: The switchers of the complement alternative pathway. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:25-45. [PMID: 36382387 PMCID: PMC10099856 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The factor H (FH) protein family is emerging as a complex network of proteins controlling the fate of the complement alternative pathway (AP) and dictating susceptibility to a wide range of diseases including infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, and degenerative diseases and cancer. Composed, in man, of seven highly related proteins, FH, factor H-like 1, and 5 factor H-related proteins, some of the FH family proteins are devoted to down-regulating the AP, while others exert an opposite function by promoting AP activation. Recent findings have provided insights into the molecular mechanisms defining their biological roles and their pathogenicity, illustrating the relevance that the balance between the regulators and the activators within this protein family has in defining the outcome of complement activation on cell surfaces. In this review we will discuss the emerging roles of the factor H protein family, their impact in the complement cascade, and their involvement in the pathogenesis of complement-mediated diseases associated with the AP dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lucientes-Continente
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bárbara Márquez-Tirado
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Elena Goicoechea de Jorge
- Department of Immunology, Ophthalmology and ENT, School of Medicine, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
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15
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Rodríguez de Córdoba S. Genetic variability shapes the alternative pathway complement activity and predisposition to complement-related diseases. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:71-90. [PMID: 36089777 PMCID: PMC10086816 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The implementation of next-generation sequencing technologies has provided a sharp picture of the genetic variability in the components and regulators of the alternative pathway (AP) of the complement system and has revealed the association of many AP variants with different rare and common diseases. An important finding that has emerged from these analyses is that each of these complement-related diseases associate with genetic variants altering specific aspects of the activation and regulation of the AP. These genotype-phenotype correlations have provided valuable insights into their pathogenic mechanisms with important diagnostic and therapeutic implications. While genetic variants in coding regions and structural variants are reasonably well characterized and occasionally have been instrumental to uncover unknown features of the complement proteins, data about complement expressed quantitative trait loci are still very limited. A crucial task for future studies will be to identify these quantitative variations and to determine their impact in the overall activity of the AP. This is fundamental as it is now clear that the consequences of genetic variants in the AP are additive and that susceptibility or resistance to disease is the result of specific combinations of genetic variants in different complement components and regulators ("complotypes").
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16
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Schubart A, Flohr S, Junt T, Eder J. Low-molecular weight inhibitors of the alternative complement pathway. Immunol Rev 2023; 313:339-357. [PMID: 36217774 PMCID: PMC10092480 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13143] [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] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway predisposes individuals to a number of diseases. It can either be evoked by genetic alterations in or by stabilizing antibodies to important pathway components and typically leads to severe diseases such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, C3 glomerulopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. In addition, the alternative pathway may also be involved in many other diseases where its amplifying function for all complement pathways might play a role. To identify specific alternative pathway inhibitors that qualify as therapeutics for these diseases, drug discovery efforts have focused on the two central proteases of the pathway, factor B and factor D. Although drug discovery has been challenging for a number of reasons, potent and selective low-molecular weight (LMW) oral inhibitors have now been discovered for both proteases and several molecules are in clinical development for multiple complement-mediated diseases. While the clinical development of these inhibitors initially focuses on diseases with systemic and/or peripheral tissue complement activation, the availability of LMW inhibitors may also open up the prospect of inhibiting complement in the central nervous system where its activation may also play an important role in several neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Schubart
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefanie Flohr
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Tobias Junt
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Eder
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
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17
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Wang L, Yang Z, Yu H, Lin W, Wu R, Yang H, Yang K. Predicting diagnostic gene expression profiles associated with immune infiltration in patients with lupus nephritis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:839197. [PMID: 36532018 PMCID: PMC9755505 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.839197] [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: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To identify potential diagnostic markers of lupus nephritis (LN) based on bioinformatics and machine learning and to explore the significance of immune cell infiltration in this pathology. Methods Seven LN gene expression datasets were downloaded from the GEO database, and the larger sample size was used as the training group to obtain differential genes (DEGs) between LN and healthy controls, and to perform gene function, disease ontology (DO), and gene set enrichment analyses (GSEA). Two machine learning algorithms, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine-recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), were applied to identify candidate biomarkers. The diagnostic value of LN diagnostic gene biomarkers was further evaluated in the area under the ROC curve observed in the validation dataset. CIBERSORT was used to analyze 22 immune cell fractions from LN patients and to analyze their correlation with diagnostic markers. Results Thirty and twenty-one DEGs were screened in kidney tissue and peripheral blood, respectively. Both of which covered macrophages and interferons. The disease enrichment analysis of DEGs in kidney tissues showed that they were mainly involved in immune and renal diseases, and in peripheral blood it was mainly enriched in cardiovascular system, bone marrow, and oral cavity. The machine learning algorithm combined with external dataset validation revealed that C1QA(AUC = 0.741), C1QB(AUC = 0.758), MX1(AUC = 0.865), RORC(AUC = 0.911), CD177(AUC = 0.855), DEFA4(AUC= 0.843)and HERC5(AUC = 0.880) had high diagnostic value and could be used as diagnostic biomarkers of LN. Compared to controls, pathways such as cell adhesion molecule cam, and systemic lupus erythematosus were activated in kidney tissues; cell cycle, cytoplasmic DNA sensing pathways, NOD-like receptor signaling pathways, proteasome, and RIG-1-like receptors were activated in peripheral blood. Immune cell infiltration analysis showed that diagnostic markers in kidney tissue were associated with T cells CD8 and Dendritic cells resting, and in blood were associated with T cells CD4 memory resting, suggesting that CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells and dendritic cells are closely related to the development and progression of LN. Conclusion C1QA, C1QB, MX1, RORC, CD177, DEFA4 and HERC5 could be used as new candidate molecular markers for LN. It may provide new insights into the diagnosis and molecular treatment of LN in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Wang
- Nephrology Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihua Yang
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hangxing Yu
- Nephrology Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Nephrology Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruoxi Wu
- Nephrology Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongtao Yang
- Nephrology Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Kang Yang
- Nephrology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Henan, China
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18
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Ding Q, Li H, Xu Z, Hu K, Ye Q. Identification of CFHR4 associated with poor prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:812663. [PMID: 36338737 PMCID: PMC9632743 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.812663] [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: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most leading causes of cancer death worldwide. The 5-year survival rate of HCC patients remains low due to the lack of early-stage symptoms. Human complement factor H-related protein 4 (CFHR4) is a critical gene that belongs to the factor H family of plasma glycoproteins, which has not been linked to HCC development. The correlations between CFHR4 and prognosis and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in HCC are yet unknown. The present study demonstrated the involvement of CFHR4 in HCC via data mining approaches. Results A total of 18 upregulated and 67 down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Importantly, CFHR4, which was screened from DEGs, was shown to express at a lower level in HCC tumor tissue than normal tissues. Western blotting (WB), immunohistochemical (IHC) and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments of clinical samples further validated CFHR4 was aberrantly expressed in HCC patients; Data from TCGA showed that CFHR4 was inversely correlated with a cancer family history, histological grade, tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and serum AFP level of HCC patients; Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that low expression of CFHR4 was an independent predictive marker in patients with HCC; Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the lower expression of CFHR4 was significantly associated with the progression of HCC and poor prognosis rates. Furthermore, TIMER analysis indicated that CFHR4 expression levels had correlations with infiltrating levels of immune cells in HCC. Conclusion CFHR4 expression was low in HCC and was significantly related to the poor prognosis of HCC and the level of immune infiltration. CFHR4 played important roles in regulating the initiation and progression of HCC and could be a potential biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Methods The expression of CFHR4 was analyzed by GEO and TCGA-LIHC database and verified by WB and IHC assay. The biological function of CFHR4 was performed by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, and the genomic alteration of CFHR4 was investigated by cBioPortal database.The correlation between CFHR4 expression and clinical relevance was evaluated through Cox proportional hazards model, and the correlation between CFHR4 expression and tumor immune infiltrates were studied by TIMER database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinglin Ding
- Sino-German Biomedical Center, National Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanluo Li
- Sino-German Biomedical Center, National Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhigao Xu
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kanghong Hu
- Sino-German Biomedical Center, National Center for Cellular Regulation and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Cooperative Innovation Center of Industrial Fermentation (Ministry of Education & Hubei Province), Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Qifa Ye
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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19
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Tong X, Yang X, Tong X, Zhai D, Liu Y. Complement system-related genes in stomach adenocarcinoma: Prognostic signature, immune landscape, and drug resistance. Front Genet 2022; 13:903421. [PMID: 36159981 PMCID: PMC9493128 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.903421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the digestive tract, and its survival predictors are critical for precision medicine but have not been fully investigated. The complement system is a complex multistep cascade at the interface of innate and adaptive immunity, which augments the function of antibodies and phagocytes. This study aimed to construct and validate a CSRG signature based on TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) STAD dataset and revalidated it in an external GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) STAD cohort. Subsequently, we assessed the association of risk levels with the stromal and immune cell infiltration level in STAD using the ESTIMATE, single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), and Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter (MCP-counter) algorithm. It was found that the CSRG signature, based on three genes (SERPINE1, PROC, and CFHR3), was significantly and independently associated with the OS in TCGA STAD patients (p < 0.001). Subsequently, we found that the high-risk STAD harbors more immune cell infiltration than the low-risk group, and the ESTIMATE results indicated that there exists a more stromal component in the tumor microenvironment of the high-risk groups. Compared to the low-risk group, the high-risk STAD patients had higher expressions of marker genes for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and showed higher sensitivity to the chemotherapy agents (rapamycin, nilotinib, 5-fluorouracil, axitinib, DMOG, and JNK inhibitor VIII). The prognostic value of the CSRGs was further validated by nomogram plots, which revealed that it was superior to tumor TNM and pathologic stage. Finally, the three expression levels were evaluated in GES-1, HGC27, and AGS cells by qRT-PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Tong
- Experimental Research Center, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohu Yang
- Experimental Research Center, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojuan Tong
- Department of General Family Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dong Zhai
- The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yonglei Liu
- Experimental Research Center, Zhongshan Hospital Qingpu Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yonglei Liu,
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20
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Kumar V, Pouw RB, Autio MI, Sagmeister MG, Phua ZY, Borghini L, Wright VJ, Hoggart C, Pan B, Tan AKY, Binder A, Brouwer MC, Pinnock E, De Groot R, Hazelzet J, Emonts M, Van Der Flier M, Reiter K, Nöthen MM, Hoffmann P, Schlapbach LJ, Bellos E, Anderson S, Secka F, Martinón-Torres F, Salas A, Fink C, Carrol ED, Pollard AJ, Coin LJ, Zenz W, Wouters D, Ang LT, Hibberd ML, Levin M, Kuijpers TW, Davila S. Variation in CFHR3 determines susceptibility to meningococcal disease by controlling factor H concentrations. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1680-1691. [PMID: 36007525 PMCID: PMC9502058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.08.001] [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: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neisseria meningitidis protects itself from complement-mediated killing by binding complement factor H (FH). Previous studies associated susceptibility to meningococcal disease (MD) with variation in CFH, but the causal variants and underlying mechanism remained unknown. Here we attempted to define the association more accurately by sequencing the CFH-CFHR locus and imputing missing genotypes in previously obtained GWAS datasets of MD-affected individuals of European ancestry and matched controls. We identified a CFHR3 SNP that provides protection from MD (rs75703017, p value = 1.1 × 10-16) by decreasing the concentration of FH in the blood (p value = 1.4 × 10-11). We subsequently used dual-luciferase studies and CRISPR gene editing to establish that deletion of rs75703017 increased FH expression in hepatocyte by preventing promotor inhibition. Our data suggest that reduced concentrations of FH in the blood confer protection from MD; with reduced access to FH, N. meningitidis is less able to shield itself from complement-mediated killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikrant Kumar
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Richard B Pouw
- Division of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matias I Autio
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Centre for Translational Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore
| | | | - Zai Yang Phua
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lisa Borghini
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses, Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Victoria J Wright
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Clive Hoggart
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Bangfen Pan
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Centre for Translational Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Antson Kiat Yee Tan
- Cancer Stem Cell Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alexander Binder
- Department of General Paediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Mieke C Brouwer
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ronald De Groot
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Hazelzet
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center-Sophia Children's Hospital, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Emonts
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; National Institute for Health and Care Research Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre Based at Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals National Health Service Trust and Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK; Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology Department, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Michiel Van Der Flier
- Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Karl Reiter
- Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and Dr. von Hauner's Children's Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus M Nöthen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Per Hoffmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Luregn J Schlapbach
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology and Children`s Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Evangelos Bellos
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Fatou Secka
- Medical Research Council Unit Gambia, Banjul, The Gambia
| | - Federico Martinón-Torres
- Translational Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Genetics, Vaccines, Infectious Diseases, and Pediatrics Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Salas
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Unidade de Xenética, Instituto de Ciencias Forenses, Facultade de Medicina, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; GenPoB Research Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Colin Fink
- Micropathology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Enitan D Carrol
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrew J Pollard
- Oxford Vaccine Group, Department of Pediatrics, University of Oxford and the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Lachlan J Coin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Werner Zenz
- Department of General Paediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Diana Wouters
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam Infection and Immunity Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lay Teng Ang
- Cancer Stem Cell Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Martin L Hibberd
- Infectious Diseases, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Infectious and Tropical Disease, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Michael Levin
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Taco W Kuijpers
- Division of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Sonia Davila
- Human Genetics, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; SingHealth Duke-NUS Institute of Precision Medicine, Singapore, Singapore.
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21
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Intertwined pathways of complement activation command the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. Transl Res 2022; 245:18-29. [PMID: 35296451 PMCID: PMC9167748 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The complement system is involved in the origin of autoimmunity and systemic lupus erythematosus. Both genetic deficiency of complement components and excessive activation are involved in primary and secondary renal diseases, including lupus nephritis. Among the pathways, the classical pathway has long been accepted as the main pathway of complement activation in systemic lupus erythematosus. However, more recent studies have shown the contribution of factors B and D which implies the involvement of the alternative pathway. While there is evidence on the role of the lectin pathway in systemic lupus erythematosus, it is yet to be demonstrated whether this pathway is protective or harmful in lupus nephritis. Complement is being explored for the development of disease biomarkers and therapeutic targeting. In the current review we discuss the involvement of complement in lupus nephritis.
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22
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Yu H, Wang C, Ke S, Bai M, Xu Y, Lu S, Feng Z, Qian B, Xu Y, Zhou M, Li Z, Yin B, Li X, Hua Y, Zhou Y, Pan S, Fu Y, Ma Y. Identification of CFHR4 as a Potential Prognosis Biomarker Associated With lmmune Infiltrates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:892750. [PMID: 35812416 PMCID: PMC9257081 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.892750] [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: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Complement factor H-related 4 (CFHR4) is a protein-coding gene that plays an essential role in multiple diseases. However, the prognostic value of CFHR4 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unknown. Methods Using multiple databases, we investigated CFHR4 expression levels in HCC and multiple cancers. The relationship between CFHR4 expression levels and clinicopathological variables was further analyzed. Various potential biological functions and regulatory pathways of CFHR4 in HCC were identified by performing a Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was performed to confirm the correlation between CFHR4 expression and immune cell infiltration. The correlations between CFHR4 expression levels in HCC and N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications and the competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were confirmed in TCGA cohort. Results CFHR4 expression levels were significantly decreased in HCC tissues. Low CFHR4 expression in HCC tissues was significantly correlated with the patients’ sex, race, age, TNM stage, pathological stage, tumor status, residual tumor, histologic grade and alpha fetal protein (AFP) level. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that differentially expressed genes related to CFHR4 may be involved in the synaptic membrane, transmembrane transporter complex, gated channel activity, chemical carcinogenesis, retinol metabolism, calcium signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, insulin and gastric acid secretion. GSEA revealed that the FCGR-activated reaction, PLK1 pathway, ATR pathway, MCM pathway, cascade reactions of PI3K and FGFR1, reactant-mediated MAPK activation and FOXM1 pathway were significantly enriched in HCC with low CFHR4 expression. Moreover, CFHR4 expression was inversely correlated the levels of infiltrating Th2 cells, NK CD56bright cells and Tfh cells. In contrast, we observed positive correlations with the levels of infiltrating DCs, neutrophils, Th17 cells and mast cells. CFHR4 expression showed a strong correlation with various immunomarker groups in HCC. In addition, high CFHR4 expression significantly prolonged the overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free interval (PFI). We observed a substantial correlation between the expression of CFHR4 and multiple N6-methyladenosine genes in HCC and constructed potential CFHR4-related ceRNA regulatory networks. Conclusions CFHR4 might be a potential therapeutic target for improving the HCC prognosis and is closely related to immune cell infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjun Yu
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Chaoqun Wang
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shanjia Ke
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Miaoyu Bai
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shounan Lu
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhigang Feng
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- The First Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Minzu University, Tongliao, China
| | - Baolin Qian
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yue Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Hainan Hospital of PLA General Hospital, Sanya, China
| | - Menghua Zhou
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zihao Li
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Bing Yin
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xinglong Li
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yongliang Hua
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yongzhi Zhou
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shangha Pan
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Yao Fu, ; Yong Ma,
| | - Yong Ma
- Department of Minimal Invasive Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Key Laboratory of Hepatosplenic Surgery, Ministry of Education, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Yao Fu, ; Yong Ma,
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Unraveling Structural Rearrangements of the CFH Gene Cluster in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Patients Using Molecular Combing and Long-Fragment Targeted Sequencing. J Mol Diagn 2022; 24:619-631. [PMID: 35398599 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Complement factor H (CFH) and its related proteins have an essential role in regulating the alternative pathway of the complement system. Mutations and structural variants (SVs) of the CFH gene cluster, consisting of CFH and its five related genes (CFHR1-5), have been reported in renal pathologies as well as in complex immune diseases like age-related macular degeneration and systemic lupus erythematosus. SV analysis of this cluster is challenging because of its high degree of sequence homology. Following first-line next-generation sequencing gene panel sequencing, we applied Genomic Vision's Molecular Combing Technology to detect and visualize SVs within the CFH gene cluster and resolve its structural haplotypes completely. This approach was tested in three patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and known SVs and 18 patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome or complement factor 3 glomerulopathy with unknown CFH gene cluster haplotypes. Three SVs, a CFH/CFHR1 hybrid gene in two patients and a rare heterozygous CFHR4/CFHR1 deletion in trans with the common CFHR3/CFHR1 deletion in a third patient, were newly identified. For the latter, the breakpoints were determined using a targeted enrichment approach for long DNA fragments (Samplix Xdrop) in combination with Oxford Nanopore sequencing. Molecular combing in addition to next-generation sequencing was able to improve the molecular genetic yield in this pilot study. This (cost-)effective approach warrants validation in larger cohorts with CFH/CFHR-associated disease.
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24
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Márquez-Tirado B, Gutiérrez-Tenorio J, Tortajada A, Lucientes Continente L, Caravaca-Fontán F, Malik TH, Roldán Montero R, Elías S, Saiz Gonzalez A, Fernández-Juarez G, Sánchez-Corral P, Pickering MC, Praga M, Rodríguez de Córdoba S, Goicoechea de Jorge E. Factor H-Related Protein 1 Drives Disease Susceptibility and Prognosis in C3 Glomerulopathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:1137-1153. [PMID: 35545301 PMCID: PMC9161805 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021101318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a heterogeneous group of chronic renal diseases characterized predominantly by glomerular C3 deposition and complement dysregulation. Mutations in factor H-related (FHR) proteins resulting in duplicated dimerization domains are prototypical of C3G, although the underlying pathogenic mechanism is unclear. METHODS Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we performed extensive characterization of an FHR-1 mutant with a duplicated dimerization domain. To assess the FHR-1 mutant's association with disease susceptibility and renal prognosis, we also analyzed CFHR1 copy number variations and FHR-1 plasma levels in two Spanish C3G cohorts and in a control population. RESULTS Duplication of the dimerization domain conferred FHR-1 with an increased capacity to interact with C3-opsonized surfaces, which resulted in an excessive activation of the alternative pathway. This activation does not involve C3b binding competition with factor H. These findings support a scenario in which mutant FHR-1 binds to C3-activated fragments and recruits native C3 and C3b; this leads to formation of alternative pathway C3 convertases, which increases deposition of C3b molecules, overcoming FH regulation. This suggests that a balanced FHR-1/FH ratio is crucial to control complement amplification on opsonized surfaces. Consistent with this conceptual framework, we show that the genetic deficiency of FHR-1 or decreased FHR-1 in plasma confers protection against developing C3G and associates with better renal outcome. CONCLUSIONS Our findings explain how FHR-1 mutants with duplicated dimerization domains result in predisposition to C3G. They also provide a pathogenic mechanism that may be shared by other diseases, such as IgA nephropathy or age-related macular degeneration, and identify FHR-1 as a potential novel therapeutic target in C3G.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Márquez-Tirado
- Department of Immunology, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Josué Gutiérrez-Tenorio
- Department of Immunology, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Agustín Tortajada
- Department of Immunology, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Lucientes Continente
- Department of Immunology, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Talat H. Malik
- Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sandra Elías
- Nephrology Department, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Saiz Gonzalez
- Pathological Anatomy, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pilar Sánchez-Corral
- Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), La Paz University Hospital, Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Matthew C. Pickering
- Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manuel Praga
- Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Elena Goicoechea de Jorge
- Department of Immunology, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
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Jia C, Tan Y, Zhao M. The complement system and autoimmune diseases. Chronic Dis Transl Med 2022; 8:184-190. [PMID: 36161202 PMCID: PMC9481883 DOI: 10.1002/cdt3.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system plays a key role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, which usually injures the kidney. More and more studies have shown the pathogenic role and indicated that abnormal activation of the complement system was highly involved in the outbreak of autoimmune diseases. This review mainly introduced recent studies of complement system activation contributing to the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody‐associated vasculitides, and so on. Understanding the pathogenic roles of complement activation in various autoimmune diseases will identify potential novel therapeutic targets on complement systems. The complement system is important in the pathogenesis of a group of autoimmune diseases. Targeting the complement system might provide us with novel target therapies in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhao Jia
- Laboratory of Renal Disease, Department of Medicine, Renal Division, Ministry of Health of China, Peking University First Hospital Peking University Institute of Nephrology Beijing China
- Peking‐Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences Beijing China
| | - Ying Tan
- Laboratory of Renal Disease, Department of Medicine, Renal Division, Ministry of Health of China, Peking University First Hospital Peking University Institute of Nephrology Beijing China
| | - Minghui Zhao
- Laboratory of Renal Disease, Department of Medicine, Renal Division, Ministry of Health of China, Peking University First Hospital Peking University Institute of Nephrology Beijing China
- Peking‐Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences Beijing China
- Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biomedicine Peking University Beijing China
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26
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Immunogenetics of Lupus Erythematosus. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2022; 1367:213-257. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-92616-8_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Freiwald T, Afzali B. Renal diseases and the role of complement: Linking complement to immune effector pathways and therapeutics. Adv Immunol 2021; 152:1-81. [PMID: 34844708 PMCID: PMC8905641 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ai.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The complement system is an ancient and phylogenetically conserved key danger sensing system that is critical for host defense against pathogens. Activation of the complement system is a vital component of innate immunity required for the detection and removal of pathogens. It is also a central orchestrator of adaptive immune responses and a constituent of normal tissue homeostasis. Once complement activation occurs, this system deposits indiscriminately on any cell surface in the vicinity and has the potential to cause unwanted and excessive tissue injury. Deposition of complement components is recognized as a hallmark of a variety of kidney diseases, where it is indeed associated with damage to the self. The provenance and the pathophysiological role(s) played by complement in each kidney disease is not fully understood. However, in recent years there has been a renaissance in the study of complement, with greater appreciation of its intracellular roles as a cell-intrinsic system and its interplay with immune effector pathways. This has been paired with a profusion of novel therapeutic agents antagonizing complement components, including approved inhibitors against complement components (C)1, C3, C5 and C5aR1. A number of clinical trials have investigated the use of these more targeted approaches for the management of kidney diseases. In this review we present and summarize the evidence for the roles of complement in kidney diseases and discuss the available clinical evidence for complement inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tilo Freiwald
- Immunoregulation Section, Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Behdad Afzali
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Poppelaars F, Faria B, Schwaeble W, Daha MR. The Contribution of Complement to the Pathogenesis of IgA Nephropathy: Are Complement-Targeted Therapies Moving from Rare Disorders to More Common Diseases? J Clin Med 2021; 10:4715. [PMID: 34682837 PMCID: PMC8539100 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10204715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure for which there is no disease-specific treatment. However, this could change, since novel therapeutic approaches are currently being assessed in clinical trials, including complement-targeting therapies. An improved understanding of the role of the lectin and the alternative pathway of complement in the pathophysiology of IgAN has led to the development of these treatment strategies. Recently, in a phase 2 trial, treatment with a blocking antibody against mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease 2 (MASP-2, a crucial enzyme of the lectin pathway) was suggested to have a potential benefit for IgAN. Now in a phase 3 study, this MASP-2 inhibitor for the treatment of IgAN could mark the start of a new era of complement therapeutics where common diseases can be treated with these drugs. The clinical development of complement inhibitors requires a better understanding by physicians of the biology of complement, the pathogenic role of complement in IgAN, and complement-targeted therapies. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the role of complement in IgAN, including the recent discovery of new mechanisms of complement activation and opportunities for complement inhibitors as the treatment of IgAN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Poppelaars
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands; (B.F.); (M.R.D.)
| | - Bernardo Faria
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands; (B.F.); (M.R.D.)
- Nephrology and Infectious Disease R&D Group, INEB, Institute of Investigation and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Wilhelm Schwaeble
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK;
| | - Mohamed R. Daha
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, 9700 AD Groningen, The Netherlands; (B.F.); (M.R.D.)
- Department of Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, University of Leiden, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Lupus Nephritis with Obvious IgA deposits in the Kidneys. Am J Med Sci 2021; 363:174-184. [PMID: 34332968 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of the current study was to describe the clinico-pathological characteristics and outcomes in patients with lupus nephritis with IgA deposits in the kidneys. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 258 patients with lupus nephritis with complete clinical data and follow-up was enrolled. They were divided into two groups: the IgA deposits group and the non-IgA deposits group. Their clinico-pathological features and outcomes between the two groups were further compared. RESULTS Patients with IgA deposits had significantly lower prevalence of acute kidney failure, higher eGFR, lower plasma levels of C3a, and lower renal pathological chronicity indices scores than those with non-IgA deposits (19.4% vs. 31.8%, 80.9±35.6 vs. 69.1±39.6 ml/min/1.73m2, 1045.48 [559.41, 1796.34] vs. 1920.77 [1155.08, 2986.96]ng/ml, and 2 [1, 3] vs. 2.5 [2, 4], respectively, all P<0.05). Patients with IgA deposits also had a higher frequency of the CFH rs6677604-AA/GA genotype in comparison with those with non-IgA deposits (12.0% vs. 8.2%, P=0.469). Using the multivariable Cox hazard analysis, the IgA deposits were identified as a protective factor of survival from the composite events (HR 0.423; 95% CI, 0.219 to 0.816; P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS Patients with IgA deposits presented with milder renal damage and a good prognosis, which suggested its protective role in lupus nephritis.
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Molecular bases for the association of FHR-1 with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and other diseases. Blood 2021; 137:3484-3494. [PMID: 33651882 PMCID: PMC8288665 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
aHUS-associated FHR-1 mutants are pathogenic because they acquire capacity to bind sialic acids, which allows C3b-binding competition with FH. The mechanism by which surface-bound FHR-1 promotes complement activation is the binding and attraction of native C3 to the cell surface.
Factor H (FH)–related proteins are a group of partly characterized complement proteins thought to promote complement activation by competing with FH in binding to surface-bound C3b. Among them, FH-related protein 1 (FHR-1) is remarkable because of its association with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and other important diseases. Using a combination of biochemical, immunological, nuclear magnetic resonance, and computational approaches, we characterized a series of FHR-1 mutants (including 2 associated with aHUS) and unraveled the molecular bases of the so-called deregulation activity of FHR-1. In contrast with FH, FHR-1 lacks the capacity to bind sialic acids, which prevents C3b-binding competition between FH and FHR-1 in host-cell surfaces. aHUS-associated FHR-1 mutants are pathogenic because they have acquired the capacity to bind sialic acids, which increases FHR-1 avidity for surface-bound C3-activated fragments and results in C3b-binding competition with FH. FHR-1 binds to native C3, in addition to C3b, iC3b, and C3dg. This unexpected finding suggests that the mechanism by which surface-bound FHR-1 promotes complement activation is the attraction of native C3 to the cell surface. Although C3b-binding competition with FH is limited to aHUS-associated mutants, all surface-bound FHR-1 promotes complement activation, which is delimited by the FHR-1/FH activity ratio. Our data indicate that FHR-1 deregulation activity is important to sustain complement activation and C3 deposition at complement-activating surfaces. They also support that abnormally elevated FHR-1/FH activity ratios would perpetuate pathological complement dysregulation at complement-activating surfaces, which may explain the association of FHR-1 quantitative variations with diseases.
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31
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Piras R, Breno M, Valoti E, Alberti M, Iatropoulos P, Mele C, Bresin E, Donadelli R, Cuccarolo P, Smith RJH, Benigni A, Remuzzi G, Noris M. CFH and CFHR Copy Number Variations in C3 Glomerulopathy and Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis. Front Genet 2021; 12:670727. [PMID: 34211499 PMCID: PMC8240960 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.670727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G) and Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) are rare diseases characterized by glomerular deposition of C3 caused by dysregulation of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement. In approximately 20% of affected patients, dysregulation is driven by pathogenic variants in the two components of the AP C3 convertase, complement C3 (C3) and Factor B (CFB), or in complement Factor H (CFH) and Factor I (CFI), two genes that encode complement regulators. Copy number variations (CNVs) involving the CFH-related genes (CFHRs) that give rise to hybrid FHR proteins also have been described in a few C3G patients but not in IC-MPGN patients. In this study, we used multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to study the genomic architecture of the CFH-CFHR region and characterize CNVs in a large cohort of patients with C3G (n = 103) and IC-MPGN (n = 96) compared to healthy controls (n = 100). We identified new/rare CNVs resulting in structural variants (SVs) in 5 C3G and 2 IC-MPGN patients. Using long-read single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT), we detected the breakpoints of three SVs. The identified SVs included: 1) a deletion of the entire CFH in one patient with IC-MPGN; 2) an increased number of CFHR4 copies in one IC-MPGN and three C3G patients; 3) a deletion from CFHR3-intron 3 to CFHR3-3'UTR (CFHR34 - 6 Δ) that results in a FHR3-FHR1 hybrid protein in a C3G patient; and 4) a CFHR31 - 5-CFHR410 hybrid gene in a C3G patient. This work highlights the contribution of CFH-CFHR CNVs to the pathogenesis of both C3G and IC-MPGN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Piras
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Matteo Breno
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Valoti
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Marta Alberti
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | | | - Caterina Mele
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Elena Bresin
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Roberta Donadelli
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Paola Cuccarolo
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Richard J H Smith
- Molecular Otolaryngology and Renal Research Laboratories, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Ariela Benigni
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Remuzzi
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Marina Noris
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Bergamo, Italy
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LncRNA MIAT enhances systemic lupus erythematosus by upregulating CFHR5 expression via miR-222 degradation. Cent Eur J Immunol 2021; 46:17-26. [PMID: 33897280 PMCID: PMC8056357 DOI: 10.5114/ceji.2021.105242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a complex polygenic autoimmune disease, is associated with increased complement activation. Complement factor H related protein 5 (CFHR5) may contribute to dysfunctional complement activation, thus predisposing to SLE. The expression levels of anti-dsDNA, C3 and CFHR5 in blood samples from 50 SLE patients and 50 healthy individuals were evaluated, and also their expression levels were measured in an MRL/lpr mouse model and control MRL/MPJ mice. The results showed that CFHR5 expression increased in SLE patients together with the increase of anti-dsDNA in comparison with the healthy control. Furthermore, CFHR5 expression was inversely correlated with C3, down-regulation of which was associated with worse SLE. Previous studies indicated that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulates mRNA synthesis via microRNA (miRNA) inhibition. The present bioinformatics analysis revealed that the target miRNA (miR-222) was combined with both lncRNA MIAT and mRNA CFHR5. H&E staining of the kidney tissues of the MRL/lpr mice revealed that lncRNA MIAT, as a competitive inhibitor of miR-222, enhanced SLE by upregulating CFHR5 expression through the degradation of miR-222 in vivo. Thus, our study revealed for the first time the role of lncRNA MIAT in regulating CFHR5 expression in SLE in vivo and provided new insights into the role of lncRNA in regulation and complement function of SLE pathogenesis.
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Poppelaars F, Goicoechea de Jorge E, Jongerius I, Baeumner AJ, Steiner MS, Józsi M, Toonen EJM, Pauly D. A Family Affair: Addressing the Challenges of Factor H and the Related Proteins. Front Immunol 2021; 12:660194. [PMID: 33868311 PMCID: PMC8044877 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.660194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammation is a common denominator of diseases. The complement system, an intrinsic part of the innate immune system, is a key driver of inflammation in numerous disorders. Recently, a family of proteins has been suggested to be of vital importance in conditions characterized by complement dysregulation: the human Factor H (FH) family. This group of proteins consists of FH, Factor H-like protein 1 and five Factor H-related proteins. The FH family has been linked to infectious, vascular, eye, kidney and autoimmune diseases. In contrast to FH, the functions of the other highly homologous proteins are largely unknown and, hence, their role in the different disease-specific pathogenic mechanisms remains elusive. In this perspective review, we address the major challenges ahead in this emerging area, including 1) the controversies about the functional roles of the FH protein family, 2) the discrepancies in quantification of the FH protein family, 3) the unmet needs for validated tools and 4) limitations of animal models. Next, we also discuss the opportunities that exist for the immunology community. A strong multidisciplinary approach is required to solve these obstacles and is only possible through interdisciplinary collaboration between biologists, chemists, geneticists and physicians. We position this review in light of our own perspective, as principal investigators of the SciFiMed Consortium, a consortium aiming to create a comprehensive analytical system for the quantitative and functional assessment of the entire FH protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Poppelaars
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Elena Goicoechea de Jorge
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University and Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ilse Jongerius
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory of the Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pediatric Immunology, Rheumatology, and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children’s Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Antje J. Baeumner
- Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo-and Biosensors, Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Mihály Józsi
- Department of Immunology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Complement Research Group, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Department of Immunology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Diana Pauly
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
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Expanding the Role of Complement Therapies: The Case for Lupus Nephritis. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10040626. [PMID: 33562189 PMCID: PMC7915321 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is an innate immune surveillance network that provides defense against microorganisms and clearance of immune complexes and cellular debris and bridges innate and adaptive immunity. In the context of autoimmune disease, activation and dysregulation of complement can lead to uncontrolled inflammation and organ damage, especially to the kidney. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is characterized by loss of tolerance, autoantibody production, and immune complex deposition in tissues including the kidney, with inflammatory consequences. Effective clearance of immune complexes and cellular waste by early complement components protects against the development of lupus nephritis, while uncontrolled activation of complement, especially the alternative pathway, promotes kidney damage in SLE. Therefore, complement plays a dual role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. Improved understanding of the contribution of the various complement pathways to the development of kidney disease in SLE has created an opportunity to target the complement system with novel therapies to improve outcomes in lupus nephritis. In this review, we explore the interactions between complement and the kidney in SLE and their implications for the treatment of lupus nephritis.
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Hou G, Harley ITW, Lu X, Zhou T, Xu N, Yao C, Qin Y, Ouyang Y, Ma J, Zhu X, Yu X, Xu H, Dai D, Ding H, Yin Z, Ye Z, Deng J, Zhou M, Tang Y, Namjou B, Guo Y, Weirauch MT, Kottyan LC, Harley JB, Shen N. SLE non-coding genetic risk variant determines the epigenetic dysfunction of an immune cell specific enhancer that controls disease-critical microRNA expression. Nat Commun 2021; 12:135. [PMID: 33420081 PMCID: PMC7794586 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20460-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Since most variants that impact polygenic disease phenotypes localize to non-coding genomic regions, understanding the consequences of regulatory element variants will advance understanding of human disease mechanisms. Here, we report that the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk variant rs2431697 as likely causal for SLE through disruption of a regulatory element, modulating miR-146a expression. Using epigenomic analysis, genome-editing and 3D chromatin structure analysis, we show that rs2431697 tags a cell-type dependent distal enhancer specific for miR-146a that physically interacts with the miR-146a promoter. NF-kB binds the disease protective allele in a sequence-specific manner, increasing expression of this immunoregulatory microRNA. Finally, CRISPR activation-based modulation of this enhancer in the PBMCs of SLE patients attenuates type I interferon pathway activation by increasing miR-146a expression. Our work provides a strategy to define non-coding RNA functional regulatory elements using disease-associated variants and provides mechanistic links between autoimmune disease risk genetic variation and disease etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojun Hou
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, China-Australia Centre for Personalized Immunology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
- Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, 518040, China
| | - Isaac T W Harley
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Division of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, 80045, USA
| | - Xiaoming Lu
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Tian Zhou
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Ning Xu
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Chao Yao
- Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences(SIBS), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Yuting Qin
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Ye Ouyang
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Jianyang Ma
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Xinyi Zhu
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200127, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Dai Dai
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Huihua Ding
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Zhihua Yin
- Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, 518040, China
| | - Zhizhong Ye
- Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, 518040, China
| | - Jun Deng
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Mi Zhou
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yuanjia Tang
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China
| | - Bahram Namjou
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Ya Guo
- Sheng Yushou Center of Cell Biology and Immunology, Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Matthew T Weirauch
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Leah C Kottyan
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - John B Harley
- Division of Immunobiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- US Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Nan Shen
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Rheumatology, China-Australia Centre for Personalized Immunology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, 200001, China.
- Shenzhen Futian Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Shenzhen, 518040, China.
- Center for Autoimmune Genomics and Etiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA.
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García-Fernández J, Vilches-Arroyo S, Olavarrieta L, Pérez-Pérez J, Rodríguez de Córdoba S. Detection of Genetic Rearrangements in the Regulators of Complement Activation RCA Cluster by High-Throughput Sequencing and MLPA. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2227:159-178. [PMID: 33847941 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1016-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The regulators of complement activation (RCA) gene cluster in 1q31-1q32 includes most of the genes encoding complement regulatory proteins. Genetic variability in the RCA gene cluster frequently involve copy number variations (CNVs), a type of chromosome structural variation causing alterations in the number of copies of specific regions of DNA. CNVs in the RCA gene cluster often relate with gene rearrangements that result in the generation of novel genes, carrying internal duplications or deletions, and hybrid genes, resulting from the fusion or exchange of genetic material between two different genes. These gene rearrangements are strongly associated with a number of rare and common diseases characterized by complement dysregulation. Identification of CNVs in the RCA gene cluster is critical in the molecular diagnostic of these diseases. It can be done by bioinformatics analysis of DNA sequence data generated by massive parallel sequencing techniques (NGS, next generation sequencing) but often requires special techniques like multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). This is because the currently used massive parallel DNA sequencing approaches do not easily identify all the structural variations in the RCA gene cluster. We will describe here how to use the MLPA assays and two computational tools to analyze NGS data, NextGENe and ONCOCNV, to detect CNVs and gene rearrangements in the RCA gene cluster.
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Skerka C, Pradel G, Halder LD, Zipfel PF, Zipfel SLH, Strauß O. Factor H-related protein 1: a complement regulatory protein and guardian of necrotic-type surfaces. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:2823-2831. [PMID: 33085794 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Factor H-related protein 1 (FHR-1) is a member of the factor H protein family, which is involved in regulating innate immune complement reactions. Genetic modification of the encoding gene, CFHR1 on human chromosome 1, is involved in diseases such as age-related macular degeneration, C3 glomerulopathy and atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome, indicating an important role for FHR-1 in human health. Recent research data demonstrate that FHR-1 levels increase in IgA nephropathy and anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) vasculitis and that FHR-1 induces strong inflammation in monocytes on necrotic-type surfaces, suggesting a complement-independent role. These new results increase our knowledge about the role of this complement protein in pathology and provide a new therapeutic target, particularly in the context of inflammatory diseases induced by necrosis. This review summarizes current knowledge about FHR-1 and discusses its role in complement reactions and inflammation. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Canonical and non-canonical functions of the complement system in health and disease. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Skerka
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Gabriele Pradel
- Division of Cellular and Applied Infection Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Luke D Halder
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Svante L H Zipfel
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Heart Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Olaf Strauß
- Experimental Ophthalmology, Charité University Medicine, Campus Virchow Clinic, Berlin, Germany
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Tao J, Tan M, Li LL, Chu H, Song D, Tan Y, Wang SX, Qu Z, Yu F. Genetic Variant CFH rs6677604 Might Play a Protective Role in lupus Nephritis. Am J Med Sci 2020; 361:336-343. [PMID: 33309135 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2020.10.008] [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: 11/13/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the associations between the complement factor H (CFH) rs6677604 and clinico-pathological characteristics of lupus nephritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 188 patients with lupus nephritis with complete clinico-pathological data were enrolled and genotyping of CFH rs6677604 was conducted by TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Patients were divided into two groups by rs6677604-AA/AG or -GG, and the clinico-pathological features between the two groups were further compared. RESULTS We found that patients with rs6677604-AA/AG presented with lower prevalence of anti-dsDNA antibody (12/24 [50.0%] vs 121/164 [73.8%], P = 0.028), higher level of plasma C3a (2642.96 ± 1575.05 vs 1640.01 ± 1209.40, ng/ml, P = 0.024), and a tendency for higher level of plasma CFH (505.76 ± 169.28 vs 397.67 ± 179.11, μg/ml, P = 0.087). Patients with rs6677604-AA/AG had milder renal histopathological features, including total activity indices score (4.5[0, 13] vs 8[0, 19], P = 0.013), endocapillary hypercellularity (1.5[0, 3] vs 3[0, 3], P = 0.013), sub-endothelial hyaline deposits (0.5[0, 3] vs 1[0,3], P = 0.021), glomerular leukocyte infiltration (0.5[0, 1] vs 1[0, 12], P = 0.023) and tubular atrophy (1[0, 1] vs 1[0, 3], P = 0.027) than those with rs6677604-GG, which was further confirmed by the stratified analysis. The rs6677604-A was not a risk factor for patients' renal outcomes (hazard ratio=0.898; 95% CI: 0.264-3.059, P = 0.863). CONCLUSIONS The rs6677604-A genotype in CFH was associated with milder renal pathological features in lupus nephritis, and its protective effect on the pathogenesis of the disease remained to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Tao
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Meng Tan
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Lin-Lin Li
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Hong Chu
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Di Song
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Ying Tan
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China
| | - Su-Xia Wang
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy, Pathological Centre, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Zhen Qu
- Department of Nephrology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Feng Yu
- Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital, Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Key Laboratory of Renal Disease, Ministry of Health of China, Key Laboratory of CKD Prevention and Treatment, Ministry of Education of China, Beijing, PR China; Department of Nephrology, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, PR China
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Mejia-Vilet JM, Gómez-Ruiz IA, Cruz C, Méndez-Pérez RA, Comunidad-Bonilla RA, Uribe-Uribe NO, Nuñez-Alvarez CA, Morales-Buenrostro LE. Alternative complement pathway activation in thrombotic microangiopathy associated with lupus nephritis. Clin Rheumatol 2020; 40:2233-2242. [PMID: 33170371 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-020-05499-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare manifestation associated with activation of the complement system. This study aimed to compare plasma and urine complement activation products between patients with active lupus nephritis (aLN) and those with acute TMA plus concomitant active LN (aTMA+aLN). METHODS Plasma and urine samples were obtained from 20 patients with aTMA+aLN, 20 patients with aLN matched by the histological activity index, 5 patients with chronic TMA, 20 patients with inactive LN, and 10 kidney donors. Complement fragments C3a, C4a, C4d, Ba, C5a, C5bC9, and factor H were determined by ELISA; and kidney C4d deposition was detected by immunohistochemistry. Patients were followed for > 12 months and complement activation products re-measured after treatment in 10 aTMA+aLN patients. RESULTS Both aTMA+aLN and aLN groups had increased circulating C3a, Ba, and C5bC9; and decreased circulating C3, C4, C4a, C4d, and factor H. Urinary C3a, C5a, Ba, and C5bC9 were higher in patients with aTMA+aLN than in aLN. After treatment, levels of circulating C3, C4, and factor H increased; while levels of urinary C3a, C5a, Ba, and C5bC9 decreased in patients with aTMA+aLN. These changes were observed at each aTMA episode in two patients studied during repeated TMA episodes. There was no difference in C4d deposition in glomerular capillaries, tubular basement membrane, peritubular capillaries, and arterioles between patients with aLN and those aTMA+aLN. CONCLUSIONS Circulating and urine complement activation products suggest that thrombotic microangiopathy associated with LN is mediated through activation of the alternative complement pathway. Key Points • Immune-complex kidney disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with activation of the classical, lectin, and alternative complement pathways • Indirect evidence from measurement of circulating and urinary complement pathway activation products suggests that renal acute thrombotic microangiopathy in SLE is mediated by activation of the alternative complement pathway • C4d kidney immunohistochemistry may be positive in both immune complex nephritis and thrombotic microangiopathy. Therefore, it is not a specific marker of renal thrombotic microangiopathy in SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Mejia-Vilet
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Ismael A Gómez-Ruiz
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Cristino Cruz
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - R Angélica Méndez-Pérez
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Roque A Comunidad-Bonilla
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Norma O Uribe-Uribe
- Department of Pathology and Pathologic Anatomy, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Carlos A Nuñez-Alvarez
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Luis E Morales-Buenrostro
- Department of Nephrology and Mineral Metabolism, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Belisario Domínguez Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Li X, Hao Z, Liu X, Li W. Deficiency of Mouse FHR-1 Homolog, FHR-E, Accelerates Sepsis, and Acute Kidney Injury Through Enhancing the LPS-Induced Alternative Complement Pathway. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1123. [PMID: 32636836 PMCID: PMC7316958 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative complement pathway (AP) plays an important role in the development of sepsis, which is life threatening. Deficiency of factor H-related protein 1 (FHR-1), which is a regulator of AP, has been considered as a susceptible factor for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and other types of nephropathy when an inducer such as infection exists. However, the underlying mechanism of the disease development is largely unknown. There is no report on CFHR1 gene knockout in any animal infection model and its function in vivo is still unclear. Here, a Cfhr1 knockout mouse was generated for investigating AP in sepsis and sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). We found that murine FHR-1 homolog (FHR-E) deficiency enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AP activation both in vitro and in vivo and that Cfhr1 knockout mice exhibited more severe sepsis and AKI in response to LPS challenge. These results indicated that FHR-E deficiency promoted LPS-induced sepsis and AKI through AP over-activation, providing a mouse model for studying AP regulation and sepsis. This study revealed the function of FHR-E in vivo, which may further provide hints to the pathogenesis of FHR-1 deficiency-related diseases by enhancing LPS-induced AP activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangru Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing, China.,Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenhua Hao
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing, China.,Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaorong Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Beijing Key Laboratory for Genetics of Birth Defects, Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,MOE Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Beijing, China.,Genetics and Birth Defects Control Center, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
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Anti-complement factor H autoantibodies may be protective in lupus nephritis. Clin Chim Acta 2020; 508:1-8. [PMID: 32387092 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the role of anti-CFH autoantibodies in lupus nephritis based on a well-defined cohort. METHODS One hundred twenty patients with biopsy-proven active lupus nephritis were collected as the discovery cohort, sixty patients served as the validation cohort, thirty-four patients with SLE without renal involvement (NR-SLE) were as disease controls, and thirty healthy donors were also included. The anti-CFH autoantibodies and IgG subclasses were detected by ELISA, and epitopes were evaluated by western blot. Anti-CFH autoantibodies were purified by affinity chromatography column, and the interference on the biofunctions of CFH was further studied by the C3b binding assay and cofactor activity assay in vitro. RESULTS The prevalence of anti-CFH autoantibodies in lupus nephritis was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (8.3% (10/120) vs. 0% (0/30), P = 0.017), and no significant difference was found between the discovery and the validation group (8.3% (10/120) vs. 11.7% (7/60), P = 0.268) or the discovery and the NR-SLE group (8.3% (10/120) vs. 11.8% (4/34), P = 0.231). The subclass was mainly IgG2 (7/10), and major epitopes were in the middle (8/10 in SCRs 11-14) and N-terminal (7/10 in SCRs 1-4) regions of CFH. Patients with anti-CFH autoantibodies had a significantly lower prevalence of acute kidney injury (0% (0/10) vs. 40.0%(4/10), P = 0.025), lower serum creatinine levels (0.76 (0.40, 1.06) vs. 1.43 (0.46, 11.15), mg/dL, P = 0.023), and higher hemoglobin levels (113.8 ± 24.63 vs. 90.0 ± 22.53, g/L, P = 0.037) than those who were negative after further stratified analysis. A functional study showed that anti-CFH autoantibodies purified from patients with lupus nephritis could improve the binding between CFH and C3b, and also enhance the cofactor activity of CFH in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Anti-CFH autoantibodies were detected in patients with lupus nephritis in approximately 10% of patients with polyepitopes and IgG2 subclass predominance. Patients with anti-CFH autoantibodies presented with milder renal damage, and the purified autoantibodies could enhance the C3b binding and CFI cofactor activity of CFH in vitro, which suggested a protective role in the lupus nephritis.
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Interaction of miR-181b and IFNA1 Polymorphisms on the Risk of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:4757065. [PMID: 32382553 PMCID: PMC7196983 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4757065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Introduction A previous work has discovered that chromosome 1q32 locus linked to the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and miR-181b located on the susceptibility site with downregulation inversely correlating to its target molecular interferon alpha 1 (IFNA1). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of miR-181b and IFNA1 polymorphisms with IS risk. Methods The miR-181b rs322931, IFNA1 rs1332190, and rs10811543 were genotyped using a Multiplex SNaPshot assay. miR-181b expression levels in plasma of SLE patients and controls were analyzed using quantitative PCR. Results The rs322931 CT, CT/TT, and T allele exerted an increased trend of SLE risk (CT vs. CC: adjusted OR = 1.71, 95% CI 1.16-2.50, P = 0.01; CT/TT vs. CC: adjusted OR = 1.45, 95% CI 1.08-1.95, P = 0.01; T vs. C: adjusted OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.07-1.79, P = 0.01). Combined genotypes of the rs322931 CT/TT+rs1332190 TT and the rs322931 CC+rs10811543 AG/AA also revealed an increased risk of SLE. Gene-gene interaction analysis showed that a three-locus model consisting of rs322931, rs1332190, and rs10811543 attributed an increased risk of SLE. Further genotype-phenotype analysis revealed that rs322931 CT/TT carriers displayed lower levels of miR-181b. Conclusions These findings indicate that the miR-181b rs322931 may be singly and jointly responsible for the etiology of SLE by altering miR-181b expression.
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A genome-wide association study identifies key modulators of complement factor H binding to malondialdehyde-epitopes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:9942-9951. [PMID: 32321835 PMCID: PMC7211993 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1913970117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway due to impaired binding of complement factor H (CFH) to self-ligands or altered self-ligands (e.g. malondialdehyde [MDA]-modified molecules) involved in homeostasis can promote the development of complement-related diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We identified, in an unbiased GWAS approach, that common genetic variants within the CFH gene family (rs1061170 and the deletion of the complement factor H-related protein 1 and 3 genes [CFHR3 and CFHR1]) act as major modulators of CFH recruitment and its ability to regulate complement on MDA-epitopes. These findings demonstrate the importance of the genetic status within the CFH/CFHR3/CFHR1 locus in tissue homeostasis and provide a mechanistic explanation as to why deletion of CFHR3/CFHR1 is protective in AMD development. Genetic variants within complement factor H (CFH), a major alternative complement pathway regulator, are associated with the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other complementopathies. This is explained with the reduced binding of CFH or its splice variant factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1) to self-ligands or altered self-ligands (e.g., malondialdehyde [MDA]-modified molecules) involved in homeostasis, thereby causing impaired complement regulation. Considering the critical role of CFH in inhibiting alternative pathway activation on MDA-modified surfaces, we performed an unbiased genome-wide search for genetic variants that modify the ability of plasma CFH to bind MDA in 1,830 individuals and characterized the mechanistic basis and the functional consequences of this. In a cohort of healthy individuals, we identified rs1061170 in CFH and the deletion of CFHR3 and CFHR1 as dominant genetic variants that modify CFH/FHL-1 binding to MDA. We further demonstrated that FHR1 and FHR3 compete with CFH for binding to MDA-epitopes and that FHR1 displays the highest affinity toward MDA-epitopes compared to CFH and FHR3. Moreover, FHR1 bound to MDA-rich areas on necrotic cells and prevented CFH from mediating its cofactor activity on MDA-modified surfaces, resulting in enhanced complement activation. These findings provide a mechanistic explanation as to why the deletion of CFHR3 and CFHR1 is protective in AMD and highlight the importance of genetic variants within the CFH/CFHR3/CFHR1 locus in the recognition of altered-self in tissue homeostasis.
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Zipfel PF, Wiech T, Stea ED, Skerka C. CFHR Gene Variations Provide Insights in the Pathogenesis of the Kidney Diseases Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and C3 Glomerulopathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2020; 31:241-256. [PMID: 31980588 PMCID: PMC7003313 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2019050515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sequence and copy number variations in the human CFHR-Factor H gene cluster comprising the complement genes CFHR1, CFHR2, CFHR3, CFHR4, CFHR5, and Factor H are linked to the human kidney diseases atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) and C3 glomerulopathy. Distinct genetic and chromosomal alterations, deletions, or duplications generate hybrid or mutant CFHR genes, as well as hybrid CFHR-Factor H genes, and alter the FHR and Factor H plasma repertoire. A clear association between the genetic modifications and the pathologic outcome is emerging: CFHR1, CFHR3, and Factor H gene alterations combined with intact CFHR2, CFHR4, and CFHR5 genes are reported in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. But alterations in each of the five CFHR genes in the context of an intact Factor H gene are described in C3 glomerulopathy. These genetic modifications influence complement function and the interplay of the five FHR proteins with each other and with Factor H. Understanding how mutant or hybrid FHR proteins, Factor H::FHR hybrid proteins, and altered Factor H, FHR plasma profiles cause pathology is of high interest for diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany;
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany; and
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Section of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Emma D Stea
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
| | - Christine Skerka
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
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Shanta O, Noor A, Sebat J. The effects of common structural variants on 3D chromatin structure. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:95. [PMID: 32000688 PMCID: PMC6990566 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6516-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Three-dimensional spatial organization of chromosomes is defined by highly self-interacting regions 0.1–1 Mb in size termed Topological Associating Domains (TADs). Genetic factors that explain dynamic variation in TAD structure are not understood. We hypothesize that common structural variation (SV) in the human population can disrupt regulatory sequences and thereby influence TAD formation. To determine the effects of SVs on 3D chromatin organization, we performed chromosome conformation capture sequencing (Hi-C) of lymphoblastoid cell lines from 19 subjects for which SVs had been previously characterized in the 1000 genomes project. We tested the effects of common deletion polymorphisms on TAD structure by linear regression analysis of nearby quantitative chromatin interactions (contacts) within 240 kb of the deletion, and we specifically tested the hypothesis that deletions at TAD boundaries (TBs) could result in large-scale alterations in chromatin conformation. Results Large (> 10 kb) deletions had significant effects on long-range chromatin interactions. Deletions were associated with increased contacts that span the deleted region and this effect was driven by large deletions that were not located within a TAD boundary (nonTB). Some deletions at TBs, including a 80 kb deletion of the genes CFHR1 and CFHR3, had detectable effects on chromatin contacts. However for TB deletions overall, we did not detect a pattern of effects that was consistent in magnitude or direction. Large inversions in the population had a distinguishable signature characterized by a rearrangement of contacts that span its breakpoints. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that common SVs in the population impact long-range chromatin structure, and deletions and inversions have distinct signatures. However, the effects that we observe are subtle and variable between loci. Genome-wide analysis of chromatin conformation in large cohorts will be needed to quantify the influence of common SVs on chromatin structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Shanta
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Amina Noor
- Beyster Center for Genomics of Psychiatric Diseases, Department of Psychiatry, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Jonathan Sebat
- Beyster Center for Genomics of Psychiatric Diseases, Department of Psychiatry, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, UCSD, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Kasanmoentalib ES, Valls Serón M, Engelen-Lee JY, Tanck MW, Pouw RB, van Mierlo G, Wouters D, Pickering MC, van der Ende A, Kuijpers TW, Brouwer MC, van de Beek D. Complement factor H contributes to mortality in humans and mice with bacterial meningitis. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:279. [PMID: 31883521 PMCID: PMC6935240 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1675-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The complement system is a vital component of the inflammatory response occurring during bacterial meningitis. Blocking the complement system was shown to improve the outcome of experimental pneumococcal meningitis. Complement factor H (FH) is a complement regulatory protein inhibiting alternative pathway activation but is also exploited by the pneumococcus to prevent complement activation on its surface conferring serum resistance. Methods In a nationwide prospective cohort study of 1009 episodes with community-acquired bacterial meningitis, we analyzed whether genetic variations in CFH influenced FH cerebrospinal fluid levels and/or disease severity. Subsequently, we analyzed the role of FH in our pneumococcal meningitis mouse model using FH knock-out (Cfh−/−) mice and wild-type (wt) mice. Finally, we tested whether adjuvant treatment with human FH (hFH) improved outcome in a randomized investigator blinded trial in a pneumococcal meningitis mouse model. Results We found the major allele (G) of single nucleotide polymorphism in CFH (rs6677604) to be associated with low FH cerebrospinal fluid concentration and increased mortality. In patients and mice with bacterial meningitis, FH concentrations were elevated during disease and Cfh−/− mice with pneumococcal meningitis had increased mortality compared to wild-type mice due to C3 depletion. Adjuvant treatment of wild-type mice with purified human FH led to complement inhibition but also increased bacterial outgrowth which resulted in similar disease outcomes. Conclusion Low FH levels contribute to mortality in pneumococcal meningitis but adjuvant treatment with FH at a clinically relevant time point is not beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Soemirien Kasanmoentalib
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mercedes Valls Serón
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joo Yeon Engelen-Lee
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michael W Tanck
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Richard B Pouw
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory of the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Hematology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard van Mierlo
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory of the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Diana Wouters
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory of the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matthew C Pickering
- Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Division of Immunology and Inflammation, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Arie van der Ende
- Department of Medical Microbiology and The Netherlands Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Taco W Kuijpers
- Department of Immunopathology, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory of the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Pediatric Hematology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Blood Cell Research, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory of the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matthijs C Brouwer
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Diederik van de Beek
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Association of Complement Factor D and H Polymorphisms with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 21:ijms21010017. [PMID: 31861421 PMCID: PMC6981708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21010017] [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: 11/16/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is defined as two or more consecutive pregnancy losses prior to 20 weeks of gestation, and the incidence of RPL is estimated at 1% of all pregnancies. While the etiologies of RPL are diverse, immune function is considered to be an important cause of RPL. In particular, the complement system is essential for stable development of the placenta and fetus. Moreover, complement factor D (CFD) and complement factor H (CFH) are important regulators of the complement system and are associated with diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration. Therefore, we investigated whether polymorphisms of CFD and CFH are associated with RPL in 412 women with RPL and 384 control women. Genotyping of three polymorphisms (CFD rs2230216, CFH rs1065489, and CFH rs1061170) was performed by TaqMan probe real-time PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Association of three polymorphisms with RPL was evaluated by statistical analysis. The GT/TC genotype combination of CFH rs1065489 G>T/CFH rs1061170 T>C was associated with a decreased risk of RPL occurrence compared with reference genotypes (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.439; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.238–0.810; p = 0.008), and this association remained significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons using false discovery rate (FDR) correction (p = 0.040). In addition, the CFH rs1065489G>T polymorphism is associated with homocysteine and prolactin level and CFH rs1061170 TC genotype is related to uric acid and triglycerides level in RPL patients. Therefore, those factors could be possible clinical risk factors in RPL patients.
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Choi M, Butler E, Clarke A, Girard LP, Gibson P, Skeith L. Managing pregnancy-associated clinical emergencies in systemic lupus erythematosus: a case-based approach. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2019; 16:5-22. [PMID: 31791152 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2019.1699057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related thrombocytopenia during pregnancy and the postpartum period have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and perinatal complications. In this case report, we present two SLE patients with thrombocytopenia emergencies secondary to HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).Areas covered: The first case involved a 26-year-old woman, G1P0 at 26 weeks gestation (GA), with high-titer antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (positive lupus anticoagulant, anti-beta 2 glycoprotein-1 (aβ2GP1), anti-cardiolipin) and non-criteria aPL to phosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex and anti-domain 1 β2GP1. This case highlights the risks associated with aPL in pregnancy, considers management issues relating to anticoagulation during pregnancy and highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for diagnosis of HELLP in SLE patients. The second case was a 36-year-old female, G3P2 at 32 weeks GA, with class III lupus nephritis (LN) who developed severe pre-eclampsia, which included mild thrombocytopenia. This case illustrates the challenges in identifying and differentiating between three pregnancy emergencies that can be seen in SLE patients (pre-eclampsia, LN, and TTP) and presents the management of TTP in peripartum SLE.Expert opinion: These two cases remind us of the importance of timely diagnosis and management of thrombocytopenia in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- May Choi
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Erin Butler
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ann Clarke
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Louis Phillipe Girard
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Paul Gibson
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Leslie Skeith
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Regulation of regulators: Role of the complement factor H-related proteins. Semin Immunol 2019; 45:101341. [PMID: 31757608 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2019.101341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The complement system, while being an essential and very efficient effector component of innate immunity, may cause damage to the host and result in various inflammatory, autoimmune and infectious diseases or cancer, when it is improperly activated or regulated. Factor H is a serum glycoprotein and the main regulator of the activity of the alternative complement pathway. Factor H, together with its splice variant factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), inhibits complement activation at the level of the central complement component C3 and beyond. In humans, there are also five factor H-related (FHR) proteins, whose function is poorly characterized. While data indicate complement inhibiting activity for some of the FHRs, there is increasing evidence that FHRs have an opposite role compared with factor H and FHL-1, namely, they enhance complement activation directly and also by competing with the regulators FH and FHL-1. This review summarizes the current stand and recent data on the roles of factor H family proteins in health and disease, with focus on the function of FHR proteins.
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50
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Liu J, Li W, Zhao H. CFHR3 is a potential novel biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cell Biochem 2019; 121:2970-2980. [PMID: 31709629 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Department of Clinical LaboratoryYue Bei People's Hospital Shaoguan Guangdong China
| | - Wenli Li
- Reproductive Medicine CenterYue Bei People's Hospital Shaoguan Guangdong China
| | - Hetong Zhao
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changhai HospitalNaval Military Medical University Shanghai China
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