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Xu Q, Li J, Yang Y, Zhuo L, Gao H, Jiang S, Li W. Prevalence and prognosis of malignancy in THSD7A-associated membranous nephropathy: a systematic literature review and clinical case study. Ren Fail 2024; 46:2355353. [PMID: 38785304 PMCID: PMC11132978 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2024.2355353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to investigate the incidence and prognosis of malignancy in individuals with thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN). METHODS First, we performed a systematic literature review of prevalence of malignancy in THSD7A-associated MN. Then, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 454 patients diagnosed with MN through renal biopsy at our hospital between January 2016 and December 2020. We assessed the presence of serum anti-THSD7A antibodies and performed immunohistochemical staining of renal tissue for THSD7A. Subsequently, we followed patients with THSD7A-associated MN for a minimum of 3-5 years, collecting their clinical, pathological characteristics, and prognosis. Additionally, we conducted a literature review on patients with THSD7A-associated MN in conjunction with malignancy. RESULTS We identified a total of nine articles containing comprehensive data on THSD7A-associated MN and malignancy. Among 235 patients with THSD7A-positive MN, 36 individuals had concurrent malignancies, resulting in a malignancy prevalence of 13.3% (95% CI: 8.9-17.7%). In our center, we followed up with 15 patients diagnosed with THSD7A-associated MN and observed three cases of concomitant tumors: two cases of lung adenocarcinoma and one case of small cell lung cancer with multiple metastases. The prevalence of malignancy in our cohort was 20%. Notably, we detected positive THSD7A staining in both renal and lung cancer tissues in one patient with small cell lung cancer. CONCLUSIONS Patients with THSD7A-associated MN should undergo vigilant follow-up assessments, with a particular focus on actively seeking potential tumorigenic lesions to prevent misdiagnosis or oversight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Xu
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayi Li
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Nephrology, Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhuo
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongmei Gao
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shimin Jiang
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wenge Li
- Department of Nephrology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
- Department of Nephrology, Peking University China-Japan Friendship School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing, China
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Wang G, Hu X, Ye N, Xu X, Guo W, Sun L, Dong H, Zhao X, Cheng H. Analysis of Clinicopathological Characteristics of Malignancy Patients with Membranous Nephropathy and Literature Review. Cancer Manag Res 2024; 16:677-689. [PMID: 38919875 PMCID: PMC11198026 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s465211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose In recent years, the incidence of malignancy patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) has gradually increased, but the clinical and pathological characteristics of these patients are still unclear. Our study aims at elucidating the clinical and pathological characteristics of malignancy patients with MN, especially the expression patterns of MN-specific antigens in both kidney and tumor tissue. Patients and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed to summarize the clinical and pathological data of MN patients with malignancy at Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2022, followed by a thorough review of relevant literature published between May 1, 2000 to May 1, 2023 and case aggregation. Results 19 patients in our center's MN cohort and 21 patients from literature review were diagnosed with malignancy either before or after being diagnosed with MN. Among them, 16 (40.0%) and 17 (42.5%) patients tested PLA2R-only and THSD7A-only positive in renal tissue, respectively. And 16 of 26 patients showed similar staining in tumor and kidney tissues. Compared to the idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) patients at our center, patients with malignancy were older, had a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and had a lower rate of partial or complete response to treatment. Renal tissue from MN patients with concomitant malignancy was less frequently PLA2R-positive, more frequently THSD7A-positive, and more often glomerular IgG subclass IgG2 (P = 0.033) but less frequently IgG4 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The clinical and pathological characteristics of MN patients with concomitant malignancy are different from those of IMN patients. Active screening for malignancy should be performed in non-PLA2R-positive elderly MN patients with a poor therapeutic response. Staining for MN target antigens in kidney and tumor tissues may be inconsistent, and the role of MN target antigens needs to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqin Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoying Hu
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Nan Ye
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyi Xu
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiyi Guo
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijun Sun
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongrui Dong
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhao
- Division of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Chifeng University, Neimenggu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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Hu X, Wang G, Cheng H. Specific antigens in malignancy-associated membranous nephropathy. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1368457. [PMID: 38686366 PMCID: PMC11056512 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1368457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a glomerular disease mediated by autoimmune complex deposition, with approximately 30% of cases attributed to secondary causes. Among them, malignant tumors are a significant cause of secondary MN. Recent advancements in the identification of MN-specific antigens, such as THSD7A and NELL-1, suggest a potential association with malignant tumors, yet definitive proof of this relationship remains elusive. Therefore, this article aims to review the distribution of MN-specific antigens in patients with MN caused by malignant tumors and the possible role of these antigens in the pathogenesis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hong Cheng
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Kistler AD, Salant DJ. Complement activation and effector pathways in membranous nephropathy. Kidney Int 2024; 105:473-483. [PMID: 38142037 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Complement activation has long been recognized as a central feature of membranous nephropathy (MN). Evidence for its role has been derived from the detection of complement products in biopsy tissue and urine from patients with MN and from mechanistic studies primarily based on the passive Heymann nephritis model. Only recently, more detailed insights into the exact mechanisms of complement activation and effector pathways have been gained from patient data, animal models, and in vitro models based on specific target antigens relevant to the human disease. These data are of clinical relevance, as they parallel the recent development of numerous specific complement therapeutics for clinical use. Despite efficient B-cell depletion, many patients with MN achieve only partial remission of proteinuria, which may be explained by the persistence of subepithelial immune complexes and ongoing complement-mediated podocyte injury. Targeting complement, therefore, represents an attractive adjunct treatment for MN, but it will need to be tailored to the specific complement pathways relevant to MN. This review summarizes the different lines of evidence for a central role of complement in MN and for the relevance of distinct complement activation and effector pathways, with a focus on recent developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas D Kistler
- Department of Medicine, Cantonal Hospital Frauenfeld, Spital Thurgau AG, Frauenfeld, Switzerland; Faculty of Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - David J Salant
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Guo Y, Ren M, Wang Y, Zhai Z, Yu L, Wang L, Tang L. Effect of rituximab in patients with PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy and malignancy. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 126:111327. [PMID: 38056198 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.111327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome in nondiabetic adults who are also within the common age group for malignancy. How to treat patients with PLA2R-associated MN and malignancy effectively and safely still requires careful consideration. The aim of our study was to examine the outcomes and safety of rituximab (RTX) in these patients. METHODS Retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed on 15 patients with PLA2R-associated MN and malignancy. Patients were followed every 1-3 months for a minimum of 24 months. Clinical data were collected, including CD19+ B cells, anti-PLA2R antibodies, 24-hour urinary protein, serum albumin, and serum creatinine. The percentage of patients who achieved clinical remission and immunological remission was also measured. RESULTS Among these 15 patients, 14 patients with solid tumors received treatment for malignant diseases with complete resection. One patient received chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukemia, and achieved complete remission 36 months before the diagnosis of MN. There were 6 (40.00 %) patients who achieved complete remission and 14 (93.33 %) patients who achieved complete or partial remission at the last visit after RTX treatment. At the last visit, patients were clinically improved, as evidenced by significant improvements in anti-PLA2R antibody titer [2.00 (2.00, 2.00) vs 35.25 (11.18, 91.58) RU/ml, P = 0.002], 24-hour urine protein [0.39 (0.11, 2.28) vs 9.22 (4.47, 14.73) g/d, P = 0.001], and serum albumin [38.15 (34.80, 43.20) vs 23.70 (18.70, 25.70) g/L, P = 0.001]. During the follow-up, the renal function of those patients remained stable. Recurrence of malignant tumors or the occurrence of new tumor events were not observed. CONCLUSION In this single-center retrospective study with a small sample size, RTX therapy might be an effective and safe treatment in patients with PLA2R-associated MN and malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Guo
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China.
| | - Mingjing Ren
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China
| | - Yulin Wang
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China
| | - Zihan Zhai
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China
| | - Lu Yu
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China
| | - Liuwei Wang
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China
| | - Lin Tang
- Department of Nephropathy, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 1 East Jianshe Road, Zhengzhou 450052, Henan, China.
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Fujii A, Hayashi N, Fujita H, Yokoyama H, Furuichi K. A Case of Spontaneous Remission of Membranous Nephropathy After the Removal of Nerve Epidermal Growth Factor-Like 1 Positive Sigmoid Colon Carcinoma. Cureus 2023; 15:e49892. [PMID: 38174198 PMCID: PMC10762652 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Recently, the association between membranous nephropathy (MN) and malignancy has been recognized in about 30% of epidermal growth factor-like 1 (NELL-1) positive cases. However, the mechanism of association with MN and malignancy remains under search. In this report, we present a unique case of MN with positive staining for both thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) and NELL-1. An 80-year-old Japanese woman with nephrotic syndrome (NS) was diagnosed as an immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 subclass predominant secondary MN with weakly positive for THSD7A staining. Then, advanced cancer in the sigmoid colon was found during screening tests for malignancy. After the removal of colon carcinoma, complete remission was achieved at 28 weeks follow-up after operation. Five years later, she remained in remission and passed without recurrence. Thereafter, we examined again newly reported NELL-1 in renal biopsy specimens and found very strong staining along the glomerular capillary walls. Moreover, in resected tumor tissues, NELL-1 was strongly positive at the basal side of adenocarcinoma cells, but THSD7A staining was negative. This case report provides clinical details and highlights the utility of autoantibodies, especially NELL-1, in the diagnosis and treatment of secondary MN with malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai Fujii
- Nephrology, Kanazawa Medical University, Kanazawa, JPN
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Peritore L, Labbozzetta V, Maressa V, Casuscelli C, Conti G, Gembillo G, Santoro D. How to Choose the Right Treatment for Membranous Nephropathy. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1997. [PMID: 38004046 PMCID: PMC10673286 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59111997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy is an autoimmune disease affecting the glomeruli and is one of the most common causes of nephrotic syndrome. In the absence of any therapy, 35% of patients develop end-stage renal disease. The discovery of autoantibodies such as phospholipase A2 receptor 1, antithrombospondin and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein has greatly helped us to understand the pathogenesis and enable the diagnosis of this disease and to guide its treatment. Depending on the complications of nephrotic syndrome, patients with this disease receive supportive treatment with diuretics, ACE inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers, lipid-lowering agents and anticoagulants. After assessing the risk of progression of end-stage renal disease, patients receive immunosuppressive therapy with various drugs such as cyclophosphamide, steroids, calcineurin inhibitors or rituximab. Since immunosuppressive drugs can cause life-threatening side effects and up to 30% of patients do not respond to therapy, new therapeutic approaches with drugs such as adrenocorticotropic hormone, belimumab, anti-plasma cell antibodies or complement-guided drugs are currently being tested. However, special attention needs to be paid to the choice of therapy in secondary forms or in specific clinical contexts such as membranous disease in children, pregnant women and patients undergoing kidney transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Peritore
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (V.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Labbozzetta
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (V.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Veronica Maressa
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (V.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Chiara Casuscelli
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (V.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Giovanni Conti
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, AOU Policlinic “G Martino”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy;
| | - Guido Gembillo
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (V.M.); (C.C.)
| | - Domenico Santoro
- Unit of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (V.M.); (C.C.)
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Tomas NM, Schnarre A, Dehde S, Lucas R, Hermans-Borgmeyer I, Kretz O, Koellner SMS, Wiech T, Koch-Nolte F, Seifert L, Huber TB, Zahner G. Introduction of a novel chimeric active immunization mouse model of PLA2R1-associated membranous nephropathy. Kidney Int 2023; 104:916-928. [PMID: 37598854 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2023.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
The phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) is the major target antigen in patients with membranous nephropathy (MN), an antibody-mediated autoimmune glomerular disease. Investigation of MN pathogenesis has been hampered by the lack of reliable animal models. Here, we overcome this issue by generating a transgenic mouse line expressing a chimeric PLA2R1 (chPLA2R1) consisting of three human PLA2R1 domains (cysteine-rich, fibronectin type-II and CTLD1) and seven murine PLA2R1 domains (CTLD2-8) specifically in podocytes. Mice expressing the chPLA2R1 were healthy at birth and showed no major glomerular alterations when compared to mice with a wild-type PLA2R1 status. Upon active immunization with human PLA2R1 (hPLA2R1), chPLA2R1-positive mice developed anti-hPLA2R1 antibodies, a nephrotic syndrome, and all major histological features of MN, including granular deposition of mouse IgG and complement components in immunofluorescence and subepithelial electron-dense deposits and podocyte foot process effacement in electron microscopy. In order to investigate the role of the complement system in this model, we further crossed chPLA2R1-positive mice with mice lacking the central complement component C3 (C3-/- mice). Upon immunization with hPLA2R1, chPLA2R1-positive C3-/- mice had substantially less severe albuminuria and nephrotic syndrome when compared to chPLA2R1-positive mice with a wild-type C3 status. In conclusion, we introduce a novel active immunization model of PLA2R1-associated MN and demonstrate a pathogenic role of the complement system in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola M Tomas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Annabel Schnarre
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silke Dehde
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lucas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Irm Hermans-Borgmeyer
- Center of Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Kretz
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah M S Koellner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Seifert
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gunther Zahner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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Jiang S, Jiang D, Lian Z, Huang X, Li T, Zhang Y. THSD7A as a Promising Biomarker for Membranous Nephrosis. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00934-5. [PMID: 37884765 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00934-5] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease of the kidney glomerulus and one of the leading causes of nephrotic syndrome. The disease exhibits heterogeneous outcomes with approximately 30% of cases progressing to end-stage renal disease. Traditionally, the standard approach of diagnosing MN involves performing a kidney biopsy. Nevertheless, kidney biopsy is an invasive procedure that poses risks for the patient including bleeding and pain, and bears greater costs for the health system. The clinical management of MN has steadily advanced owing to the identification of autoantibodies to the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in 2009 and thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) in 2014 on the podocyte surface. At present, serum anti-PLA2R antibody detection and glomerular PLA2R antigen staining have been used for clinical diagnosis and prognosis, but the related detection of THSD7A has not been widely used in clinical practice. Here, we summarized the emerging knowledge regarding the roles THSD7A plays in MN and its clinical implications as diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic response as well as Methods for detecting serum THSD7A antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuiqing Jiang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, Fujian, China.
| | - Dehua Jiang
- Kangrun Biotech LTD, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiyuan Lian
- Kangrun Biotech LTD, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaohong Huang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, Fujian, China
| | - Ting Li
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, Fujian, China
| | - Yinan Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Developmental and Neural Biology, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, Fujian, China
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10
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Yang K, Ding X, Liu J, Liu S, Liu Q, Li J, Zhang P. Two-sample mendelian randomization reveals a causal association between membranous nephropathy and lung cancer. Commun Biol 2023; 6:887. [PMID: 37658161 PMCID: PMC10474265 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05111-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A risk association between membranous nephropathy (MN) and lung cancer is reported, but traditional observational studies cannot provide strong evidence of its causality. This study aimed to assess genome-wide association studies data for a causal relationship between MN and lung cancer using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Inverse-variance weighted, and MR Egger regression techniques were used to determine the association of genetic variants from cohorts of MN and lung cancer patients. Independent genetic variants with genome-wide significance (P < 5×10-8) were used to determine the direction of chance. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the accuracy of the results. The results suggest that MN is an exposure factor for lung cancer, validated using a second cohort of lung cancer patients (P < 0.001). There is insufficient evidence to suggest a causal relationship between lung cancer and MN; however, cigarette smoking may be a confounding factor for lung cancer due to MN. The findings provide causal evidence for the effect of MN on lung cancer risk and may be useful for patient management, especially in older patients with MN who should be systematically screened regularly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kezhen Yang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310016, China
| | - Xiaofeng Ding
- Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jipeng Liu
- School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China
| | - Saisai Liu
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qingguo Liu
- China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianhua Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 3 East Qingchun Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310016, China.
| | - Pingna Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China.
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Bajcsi D, Bitó L, Turkevi-Nagy S, Nyári T, Kemény É, Légrády P, Ábrahám G, Iványi B. The value of PLA2R antigen and IgG subclass staining relative to anti-PLA2R seropositivity in the differential diagnosis of membranous nephropathy. BMC Nephrol 2023; 24:230. [PMID: 37550626 PMCID: PMC10408061 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-023-03273-4] [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: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The diagnostic performance of PLA2R and IgG subclass staining of kidney biopsies relative to anti-PLA2R seropositivity in the differentiation of primary and secondary membranous nephropathy (pMN, sMN) was examined. Besides PLA2R staining - which has a lower specificity than anti-PLA2R antibody serology - there is insufficient knowledge to decide which IgG1-4 subtype immunohistological patterns (IgG4-dominance, IgG4-dominance/IgG1-IgG4-codominance or IgG4-dominance/IgG4-codominance with any IgG subtype) could be used to distinguish between pMN and sMN. METHODS 87 consecutive Hungarian patients (84 Caucasians, 3 Romas) with the biopsy diagnosis of MN were classified clinically as pMN (n = 63) or sMN (n = 24). The PLA2R and IgG subclass staining was part of the diagnostic protocol. Anti-PLA2R antibodies were determined by an indirect immunofluorescence test in 74 patients with disease activity. RESULTS For pMN, the sensitivity of anti-PLA2R seropositivity was 61.1%, and the specificity was 90.0%; and similar values for PLA2R staining were 81.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. In all stages of pMN, IgG4-dominance was the dominant subclass pattern, while the second most frequent was IgG3/IgG4-codominance. The sensitivity and specificity scores were: IgG4-dominance 52.2% and 91.7%, IgG4-dominance/IgG3-IgG4-codominance 76.2% and 87.5%, IgG4-dominance/IgG1-IgG4-codominance 64.2% and 75%, and IgG4-dominance/codominance with any IgG subclass 92.1% and 70.8%, respectively. Anti-PLA2R seropositivity, glomerular PLA2R, and IgG4-dominance/codominance significantly correlated with each other. The IgG4 subclass was rarely encountered in sMN. CONCLUSION In our series, IgG4-dominance had the highest specificity in the differentiation of MN, just as high as that for anti-PLA2R seropositivity. The specificity values of PLA2R staining and IgG4-dominance/codominance with any IgG subclass or IgG4-dominance/IgG1-IgG4 codominance were ≤ 75%. Apart from IgG4 dominance, IgG4-dominance/IgG3-IgG4-codominance also had good statistical value in differentiating pMN from sMN. As IgG subclass switching during the progression of pMN was not the feature of our cohort, pMN in Hungarian patients is presumed to be an IgG4-related disorder right from the start. Although anti-PLA2R seropositivity has become the cornerstone for diagnosing pMN, if a kidney biopsy evaluation is conducted, besides the staining of PLA2R antigen, the evaluation of IgG subclasses provides relevant information for a differential diagnosis. Even in cases with IgG4-dominance, however, malignancy should be thoroughly checked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra Bajcsi
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
| | - László Bitó
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Tibor Nyári
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Kemény
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Péter Légrády
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - György Ábrahám
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Béla Iványi
- Szent-Györgyi Albert Health Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
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12
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Seifert L, Zahner G, Meyer-Schwesinger C, Hickstein N, Dehde S, Wulf S, Köllner SMS, Lucas R, Kylies D, Froembling S, Zielinski S, Kretz O, Borodovsky A, Biniaminov S, Wang Y, Cheng H, Koch-Nolte F, Zipfel PF, Hopfer H, Puelles VG, Panzer U, Huber TB, Wiech T, Tomas NM. The classical pathway triggers pathogenic complement activation in membranous nephropathy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:473. [PMID: 36709213 PMCID: PMC9884226 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by glomerular immune complexes containing complement components. However, both the initiation pathways and the pathogenic significance of complement activation in MN are poorly understood. Here, we show that components from all three complement pathways (alternative, classical and lectin) are found in renal biopsies from patients with MN. Proximity ligation assays to directly visualize complement assembly in the tissue reveal dominant activation via the classical pathway, with a close correlation to the degree of glomerular C1q-binding IgG subclasses. In an antigen-specific autoimmune mouse model of MN, glomerular damage and proteinuria are reduced in complement-deficient mice compared with wild-type littermates. Severe disease with progressive ascites, accompanied by extensive loss of the integral podocyte slit diaphragm proteins, nephrin and neph1, only occur in wild-type animals. Finally, targeted silencing of C3 using RNA interference after the onset of proteinuria significantly attenuates disease. Our study shows that, in MN, complement is primarily activated via the classical pathway and targeting complement components such as C3 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa Seifert
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Gunther Zahner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Catherine Meyer-Schwesinger
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Naemi Hickstein
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Silke Dehde
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonia Wulf
- Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah M S Köllner
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Renke Lucas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Kylies
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Froembling
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Zielinski
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Kretz
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Yanyan Wang
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Division of Nephrology, Beijing Anzhen Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Helmut Hopfer
- Department of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Victor G Puelles
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ulf Panzer
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tobias B Huber
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicola M Tomas
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. .,Hamburg Center for Kidney Health (HCKH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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13
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Reinhard L, Machalitza M, Wiech T, Gröne HJ, Lassé M, Rinschen MM, Ferru N, Bräsen JH, Drömann F, Rob PM, Sethi S, Hoxha E, Stahl RA. Netrin G1 Is a Novel Target Antigen in Primary Membranous Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:1823-1831. [PMID: 35985817 PMCID: PMC9528326 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2022050608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary membranous nephropathy (MN) is caused by circulating autoantibodies binding to antigens on the podocyte surface. PLA2R1 is the main target antigen in 70%-80% of cases, but the pathogenesis is unresolved in 10%-15% of patients. METHODS We used native western blotting to identify IgG4 autoantibodies, which bind an antigen endogenously expressed on podocyte membranes, in the serum of the index patient with MN. These IgG4 autoantibodies were used to immunoprecipitate the target antigen, and mass spectrometry was used to identify Netrin G1 (NTNG1). Using native western blot and ELISA, NTNG1 autoantibodies were analyzed in cohorts of 888 patients with MN or other glomerular diseases. RESULTS NTNG1 was identified as a novel target antigen in MN. It is a membrane protein expressed in healthy podocytes. Immunohistochemistry confirmed granular NTNG1 positivity in subepithelial glomerular immune deposits. In prospective and retrospective MN cohorts, we identified three patients with NTNG1-associated MN who showed IgG4-dominant circulating NTNG1 autoantibodies, enhanced NTNG1 expression in the kidney, and glomerular IgG4 deposits. No NTNG1 autoantibodies were identified in 561 PLA2R1 autoantibodies-positive patients, 27 THSD7A autoantibodies-positive patients, and 77 patients with other glomerular diseases. In two patients with available follow-up of 2 and 4 years, both NTNG1 autoantibodies and proteinuria persisted. CONCLUSIONS NTNG1 expands the repertoire of target antigens in patients with MN. The clinical role of NTNG1 autoantibodies remains to be defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Reinhard
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maya Machalitza
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hermann-Josef Gröne
- Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Pharmacology, Phillips University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Moritz Lassé
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus M. Rinschen
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedicine and Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Nicoletta Ferru
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Hinrich Bräsen
- Institute of Pathology, Nephropathology Section, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Sanjeev Sethi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Elion Hoxha
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rolf A.K. Stahl
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg–Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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14
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Wang T, Yu W, Wu F, Zhang Y, Shang J, Zhao Z. Construction of a Nomogram Discriminating Malignancy-Associated Membranous Nephropathy From Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy: A Retrospective Study. Front Oncol 2022; 12:914092. [PMID: 35912251 PMCID: PMC9329587 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.914092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Based on the etiology, membranous nephropathy (MN) can be categorized into idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and secondary membranous nephropathy. Malignancy-associated membranous nephropathy (MMN) is a common type of secondary MN. Its incidence is only second to that of lupus nephritis. As the treatment and prognosis of MMN differ significantly from those of other MNs, the identification of MMN is crucial for clinical practice. The purpose of this study was to develop a model that could efficiently discriminate MMN, to guide more precise selection of therapeutic strategies. Methods A total of 385 with IMN and 62 patients with MMN, who were hospitalized at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between January 2017 and December 2020 were included in this study. We constructed a discriminant model based on demographic information and laboratory parameters for distinguishing MMN and IMN. To avoid an increased false positivity rate resulting from the large difference in sample numbers between the two groups, we matched MMN and IMN in a 1:3 ratio according to gender. Regression analysis was subsequently performed and a discriminant model was constructed. The calibration ability and clinical utility of the model were assessed via calibration curve and decision curve analysis. Results We constructed a discriminant model based on age, CD4+ T cell counts, levels of cystatin C, albumin, free triiodothyronine and body mass index, with a diagnostic power of 0.860 and 0.870 in the training and test groups, respectively. The model was validated to demonstrate good calibration capability and clinical utility. Conclusion In clinical practice, patients demonstrating higher scores after screening with this model should be carefully monitored for the presence of tumors in order to improve their outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wang
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Yu
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Feng Wu
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiding Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jin Shang
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Laboratory Animal Platform of Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhanzheng Zhao, ; Jin Shang,
| | - Zhanzheng Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Laboratory Animal Platform of Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhanzheng Zhao, ; Jin Shang,
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15
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Manral P, Caza TN, Storey AJ, Beck LH, Borza DB. The Alternative Pathway Is Necessary and Sufficient for Complement Activation by Anti-THSD7A Autoantibodies, Which Are Predominantly IgG4 in Membranous Nephropathy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:952235. [PMID: 35874690 PMCID: PMC9301376 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.952235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an immune kidney disease characterized by glomerular subepithelial immune complexes (ICs) containing antigen, IgG, and products of complement activation. Whereas proteinuria is caused by complement-mediated podocyte injury, the pathways of complement activation remain controversial due to the predominance of IgG4 in ICs, an IgG subclass considered unable to activate complement. THSD7A, a transmembrane protein expressed on podocytes, is the target autoantigen in ~3% of cases of primary MN. In this study, we analyzed sera from 16 patients with THSD7A-associated MN with regard to the anti-THSD7A IgG subclasses and their ability to fix complement in vitro. The serum concentration of anti-THSD7A IgG varied over two orders of magnitude (1.3-243 μg/mL). As a relative proportion of all IgG anti-THSD7A, IgG4 was by far the most abundant subclass (median 79%), followed by IgG1 (median 11%). IgG4 was the dominant subclass of anti-THSD7A antibodies in 14 sera, while IgG1 was dominant in one and co-dominant in another. One quarter of MN sera additionally contained low levels of anti-THSD7A IgA1. ICs formed by predominantly IgG4 anti-THSD7A autoantibodies with immobilized THSD7A were relatively weak activators of complement in vitro, compared to human IgG1 and IgG3 mAbs used as positive control. Complement deposition on THSD7A ICs was dose-dependent and occurred to a significant extent only at relatively high concentration of anti-THSD7A IgG. C3b fixation by THSD7A ICs was completely abolished in factor B-depleted sera, partially inhibited in C4-depleted sera, unchanged in C1q-depleted sera, and also occurred in Mg-EGTA buffer. These results imply that THSD7A ICs predominantly containing IgG4 activate complement at high IgG4 density, which strictly requires a functional alternative pathway, whereas the classical and lectin pathways are dispensable. These findings advance our understanding of how IgG4 antibodies activate complement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallavi Manral
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, United States
| | | | - Aaron J. Storey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Laurence H. Beck
- Department of Medicine (Nephrology), Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dorin-Bogdan Borza
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Dorin-Bogdan Borza,
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16
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Li B, Huang H, Yang S, Wang X, Chen W, Li Z, Chen X. Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy with Solitary Immunoglobulin A Deposition: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature. Intern Med 2022; 61:2019-2025. [PMID: 34866101 PMCID: PMC9334231 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.8404-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
A 63-year-old man with an 8-year history of proteinuria was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, and a renal biopsy was performed. Light and electron microscopic analyses showed classic features of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). However, immunofluorescence tests revealed solitary polyclonal granular IgA deposition along the glomerular capillary walls, rather than IgG, which is often dominant in IMN. The combined use of corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitor was noticeably effective in reducing proteinuria and improving edema in the current case. Two additional rare cases of IMN with solitary IgA deposition were reviewed, and long-term surveillance is still warranted to characterize its clinicopathological features and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
- Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Ministry of Health, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, China
| | - Hailiu Huang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second People's Hospital of Zhaoqing, China
| | - Shicong Yang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
- Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Ministry of Health, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
- Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Ministry of Health, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, China
| | - Zhijian Li
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
- Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Ministry of Health, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, China
| | - Xionghui Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, China
- Key Laboratory of Nephrology, Ministry of Health, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Nephrology, China
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17
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Sun IO, Bae YU, Lee H, Kim H, Jeon JS, Noh H, Choi JS, Doh KO, Kwon SH. Circulating miRNAs in extracellular vesicles related to treatment response in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. J Transl Med 2022; 20:224. [PMID: 35568952 PMCID: PMC9107687 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03430-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Extracellular vesicle (EV)-microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for various renal diseases. This study attempted to identify the circulating EV-miRNA signature not only for discriminating idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) from idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS), but also to predict the treatment response of patients with IMN. Methods We prospectively enrolled 60 participants, including those with IMN (n = 19) and INS (n = 21) and healthy volunteers (HVs; n = 20) in this study. Using RNA sequencing, we assessed the serum EV-miRNA profiles of all participants. To identify the EV-miRNAs predictive of treatment response in IMN, we also analyzed EV-miRNAs among patients with IMN with and without clinical remission. Results The expression levels of 3 miRNAs differed between IMN patients, INS patients and HVs. In addition, compared to HVs, RNA sequencing revealed differential expression of 77 and 44 EV-miRNAs in patients with IMN without and with remission, respectively. We also identified statistically significant (|fold change ≥ 2, p < 0.05) differences in the expression levels of 23 miRNAs in IMN without remission. Biological pathway analysis of miRNAs in IMN without remission indicated that they are likely involved in various pathways, including renal fibrosis. Conclusion Our study identified EV-miRNAs associated with IMN as well as those associations with therapeutic response. Therefore, these circulating EV-miRNAs may be used as potential markers for the diagnosis and prediction of treatment response in patients with IMN. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03430-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- In O Sun
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun-Ui Bae
- Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea
| | - Haekyung Lee
- Division of Nephrology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Youngsan-gu, Seoul, 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoungnae Kim
- Division of Nephrology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Youngsan-gu, Seoul, 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Seok Jeon
- Division of Nephrology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Youngsan-gu, Seoul, 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunjin Noh
- Division of Nephrology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Youngsan-gu, Seoul, 04401, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Soo Choi
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, 42415, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Oh Doh
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, 42415, Republic of Korea.
| | - Soon Hyo Kwon
- Division of Nephrology, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Youngsan-gu, Seoul, 04401, Republic of Korea.
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18
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Critical evaluation of cancer risks in glomerular disease. Transl Oncol 2022; 19:101376. [PMID: 35220046 PMCID: PMC8881657 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101376] [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: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased cancer incidence in patients with glomerular disease can be secondary to an intrinsic immune dysfunction associated with the disease or/and extrinsic factors, especially immunosuppressants. Paraneoplastic glomerulopathy is sometimes misdiagnosed as primary glomerulopathy. The treatment for paraneoplastic glomerulopathy is different from primary glomerular disease. In membranous nephropathy, serum circulating autoantibodies against PLA2R and THSD7A, immunohistochemical tissue markers for glomerular PLA2R, THSD7A and specific types of immunoglobulin G (IgG) may be used for identifying underlying malignancies. A scheme of screening of cancers frequently reported in the setting of glomerular disease is important.
The increased cancer incidence in patients with glomerular disease can be secondary to an intrinsic immune dysfunction associated with the disease or/and extrinsic factors, especially immunosuppressants. The treatment for paraneoplastic glomerulopathy is different from primary glomerular disease. Immunosuppressive therapy often used for primary glomerulopathy may aggravate concomitant cancers in patients with paraneoplastic glomerulopathy. In membranous nephropathy (MN), measurement of serum circulating autoantibodies against podocyte transmembrane glycoprotein M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), immunohistochemical staining of kidney tissue for glomerular PLA2R, THSD7A, neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL-1) and specific types of immunoglobulin G (IgG) may be useful adjuncts when screening for underlying malignancies. This review addresses overall cancer risks in individuals with glomerular diseases and employment of biomarkers available for MN. We propose a scheme of screening of cancers frequently reported in the setting of glomerular disease.
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19
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Membranous nephropathy: new pathogenic mechanisms and their clinical implications. Nat Rev Nephrol 2022; 18:466-478. [PMID: 35484394 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-022-00564-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is characterized histomorphologically by the presence of immune deposits in the subepithelial space of the glomerular filtration barrier; its clinical hallmarks are nephrotic range proteinuria with oedema. In patients with primary MN, autoimmunity is driven by circulating autoantibodies that bind to one or more antigens on the surface of glomerular podocytes. Compared with other autoimmune kidney diseases, the understanding of the pathogenesis of MN has substantially improved in the past decade, thanks to the discovery of pathogenic circulating autoantibodies against phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing protein 7A (THSD7A). The subsequent identification of more proteins associated with MN, some of which are also endogenous podocyte antigens, might further advance the clinical characterization of MN, including its diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Insights from studies in patients with MN, combined with the development of novel in vivo and in vitro experimental models, have potential to improve the management of patients with MN. Characterizing the interaction between autoimmunity and local glomerular lesions provides an opportunity to develop more specific, pathogenesis-based treatments.
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20
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Zhou X, Dai H, Jiang H, Rui H, Liu W, Dong Z, Zhang N, Zhao Q, Feng Z, Hu Y, Hou F, Zheng Y, Liu B. MicroRNAs: Potential mediators between particulate matter 2.5 and Th17/Treg immune disorder in primary membranous nephropathy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:968256. [PMID: 36210816 PMCID: PMC9532747 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.968256] [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: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary membranous nephropathy (PMN), is an autoimmune glomerular disease and the main reason of nephrotic syndrome in adults. Studies have confirmed that the incidence of PMN increases yearly and is related to fine air pollutants particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure. These imply that PM2.5 may be associated with exposure to PMN-specific autoantigens, such as the M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1). Emerging evidence indicates that Th17/Treg turns to imbalance under PM2.5 exposure, but the molecular mechanism of this process in PMN has not been elucidated. As an important indicator of immune activity in multiple diseases, Th17/Treg immune balance is sensitive to antigens and cellular microenvironment changes. These immune pathways play an essential role in the disease progression of PMN. Also, microRNAs (miRNAs) are susceptible to external environmental stimulation and play link role between the environment and immunity. The contribution of PM2.5 to PMN may induce Th17/Treg imbalance through miRNAs and then produce epigenetic affection. We summarize the pathways by which PM2.5 interferes with Th17/Treg immune balance and attempt to explore the intermediary roles of miRNAs, with a particular focus on the changes in PMN. Meanwhile, the mechanism of PM2.5 promoting PLA2R1 exposure is discussed. This review aims to clarify the potential mechanism of PM2.5 on the pathogenesis and progression of PMN and provide new insights for the prevention and treatment of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshan Zhou
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haoran Dai
- Shunyi Branch, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hanxue Jiang
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongliang Rui
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenbin Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaocheng Dong
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Na Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qihan Zhao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhendong Feng
- Pinggu Hospital, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuehong Hu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fanyu Hou
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Baoli Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Shunyi Branch, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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21
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Liu W, Huang G, Rui H, Geng J, Hu H, Huang Y, Huo G, Liu B, Xu A. Course monitoring of membranous nephropathy: Both autoantibodies and podocytes require multidimensional attention. Autoimmun Rev 2021; 21:102976. [PMID: 34757091 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2021.102976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
A variety of podocyte antigens have been identified in human membranous nephropathy (MN), which is divided into various antigen-dominated subtypes, confirming the concept that MN is the common pattern of glomerular injury in multiple autoimmune responses. The detection of autoantibodies has been widely used, which promoted the clinical practice of MN toward personalized precision medicine. However, given the potential risks of immunosuppressive therapy, more autoantibodies and biomarkers need to be identified to predict the prognosis and therapeutic response of MN more accurately. In this review, we attempted to summarize the autoantigens/autoantibodies and autoimmune mechanisms that can predict disease states based on the current understanding of MN pathogenesis, especially the podocyte injury manifestations. In conclusion, both the autoimmune response and podocyte injury require multidimensional attention in the disease course of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangrui Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hongliang Rui
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Geng
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haikun Hu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yujiao Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guiyang Huo
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Baoli Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
| | - Anlong Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
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22
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Abstract
Complement is an evolutionarily conserved system which is important in the defense against microorganisms and also in the elimination of modified or necrotic elements of the body. Complement is activated in a cascade type manner and activation and all steps of cascade progression are tightly controlled and regulatory interleaved with many processes of inflammatory machinery. Overshooting of the complement system due to dysregulation can result in the two prototypes of primary complement mediated renal diseases: C3 glomerulopathy and thrombotic microangiopathy. Apart from these, complement also is highly activated in many other inflammatory native kidney diseases, such as membranous nephropathy, ANCA-associated necrotizing glomerulonephritis, and IgA nephropathy. Moreover, it likely plays an important role also in the transplant setting, such as in antibody-mediated rejection or in hematopoietic stem cell transplant associated thrombotic microangiopathy. In this review, these glomerular disorders are discussed with regard to the role of complement in their pathogenesis. The consequential, respective clinical trials for complement inhibitory therapy strategies for these diseases are described.
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23
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Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a glomerular disease that can occur at all ages. In adults, it is the most frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome. In ~80% of patients, there is no underlying cause of MN (primary MN) and the remaining cases are associated with medications or other diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis virus infection or malignancies. MN is an autoimmune disease characterized by a thickening of the glomerular capillary walls due to immune complex deposition. Identification of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as the major antigen in adults in 2009 induced a paradigm shift in disease diagnosis and monitoring and several other antigens have since been characterized. Disease outcome is difficult to predict and around one-third of patients will undergo spontaneous remission. In those at high risk of progression, immunosuppressive therapy with cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids has substantially reduced the need for kidney replacement therapy. Owing to carcinogenic risk, other treatments (calcineurin inhibitors and CD20-targeted B cell depletion therapy (rituximab)) have been developed. However, disease relapses are frequent when calcineurin inhibitors are stopped and the remission rate with rituximab is lower than with cyclophosphamide, particularly in patients with high PLA2R antibody titres. Other new drugs are already available and antigen-specific immunotherapies are being developed.
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24
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Reinhard L, Thomas C, Machalitza M, Lattwein E, Weiss LS, Vitu J, Wiech T, Stahl RAK, Hoxha E. Characterization of THSD7A-antibodies not binding to glomerular THSD7A in a patient with diabetes mellitus but no membranous nephropathy. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16188. [PMID: 34376704 PMCID: PMC8355258 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94921-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease caused by autoantibodies against the podocyte antigens phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and thrombospondin type 1 domain containing protein 7A (THSD7A) in 80% and 2–3% of patients, respectively. THSD7A antibodies are considered to be pathogenic and highly specific for MN patients. Using an indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT) we detected THSD7A-antibodies (titre 1:10) in the serum of a patient with high proteinuria who, however, in the kidney biopsy was diagnosed with diabetic nephropathy and MN was excluded as a possible cause of proteinuria. Different immunofluorescence assays and Western blot techniques using recombinant THSD7A (rTHSD7A) or THSD7A from different human tissues revealed that the circulating THSD7A-autoantibodies were only of the IgG3 subclass. The patient serum reacted exclusively with rTHSD7A and only when the antigen was present in reducing Western blot conditions, or on formaldehyde-fixed cells for the IIFT. Our findings show for the first time the existence of circulating THSD7A-antibodies recognizing denatured/reduced rTHSD7A, which do not react with glomerular THSD7A in vivo and are thus presumptively non-pathogenic. As a consequence, kidney biopsy or Western blot analyses of THSD7A under non-reducing conditions should be performed to confirm the diagnosis of THSD7A-associated MN, especially in cases with low THSD7A-antibody levels in the IIFT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Reinhard
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cindy Thomas
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, EUROIMMUN AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Maya Machalitza
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Erik Lattwein
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, EUROIMMUN AG, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Lothar S Weiss
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Vitu
- Medizinisches Versorgungszentrum Hamburg-Sinstorf der MVZ gGmbH der PHV, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Institute of Pathology, Section Nephropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rolf A K Stahl
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elion Hoxha
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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25
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Abstract
Proteases play a central role in regulating renal pathophysiology and are increasingly evaluated as actionable drug targets. Here, we review the role of proteolytic systems in inflammatory kidney disease. Inflammatory kidney diseases are associated with broad dysregulations of extracellular and intracellular proteolysis. As an example of a proteolytic system, the complement system plays a significant role in glomerular inflammatory kidney disease and is currently under clinical investigation. Based on two glomerular kidney diseases, lupus nephritis, and membranous nephropathy, we portrait two proteolytic pathomechanisms and the role of the complement system. We discuss how profiling proteolytic activity in patient samples could be used to stratify patients for more targeted interventions in inflammatory kidney diseases. We also describe novel comprehensive, quantitative tools to investigate the entirety of proteolytic processes in a tissue sample. Emphasis is placed on mass spectrometric approaches that enable the comprehensive analysis of the complement system, as well as protease activities and regulation in general.
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26
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Abstract
The identification of the phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing protein 7A (THSD7A) as podocyte antigens in adult patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) has strongly impacted both experimental and clinical research on this disease. Evidence has been furnished that podocyte-directed autoantibodies can cause MN, and novel PLA2R- and THSD7A-specific animal models have been developed. Today, measurement of serum autoantibody levels and staining of kidney biopsies for the target antigens guides MN diagnosis and treatment worldwide. Additionally, anti-PLA2R antibodies have been proven to be valuable prognostic biomarkers in MN. Despite these impressive advances, a variety of questions regarding the disease pathomechanisms, clinical use of antibody measurement, and future treatments remain unanswered. In this review, we will outline recent advances made in the field of MN and discuss open questions and perspectives with a focus on novel antigen identification, mechanisms of podocyte injury, clinical use of antibody measurement to guide diagnosis and treatment, and the potential of innovative, pathogenesis-based treatment strategies.
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27
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Lutz J. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of membranous nephropathy. Nephrol Ther 2021; 17S:S1-S10. [PMID: 33910688 DOI: 10.1016/j.nephro.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Nephrotic syndrome is in adult patients mainly due to membranous nephropathy (MN) characterized by thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and immune complex formation between podocytes and the GBM. Autoantibodies directed against the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin 1 domain-containing 7 A (THSD7A) can be used as diagnostic biomarkers. THSD7A seems to be of direct pathogenic significance as is suggested by experimental models and plasmapheresis in humans. Recently, further antigens like NELL-1 (neural tissue encoding protein with EGF-like repeats-1), exostosin 1 and 2 have been discovered. Thus, MN should be classified into antibody positive and antibody negative MN. More specific immunosuppressive treatments directed against B-cells and antibody production like rituximab have been introduced in addition to already existing immunosuppressive protocols including steroids, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, and calcineurin inhibitors. Antibody removal using immunoadsorption or plasmapheresis leads to short-term reduction in proteinuria and might be indicated only in patients with very severe proteinuria and complications. Studies are needed to identify a more specific immunosuppression directed against the production and effects of autoantibodies in order to protect the kidneys from autoimmune mediated tissue damage and to identify patients who require an immunosuppressive treatment, as the remission rate is high in patients with MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jens Lutz
- Medical Clinic, Nephrology-Infectious Diseases, Central Rhine hospital group, Gemeinschaftsklinikum Mittelrhein, Koblenzer Straße 115-155, 56073 Koblenz, Germany.
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28
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Sawada A, Okumi M, Horita S, Tamura T, Taneda S, Ishida H, Hattori M, Tanabe K, Nitta K, Honda K, Koike J, Nagashima Y, Shimizu A. Monoclonal and polyclonal immunoglobulin G deposits on tubular basement membranes of native and pretransplant kidneys: A retrospective study. Pathol Int 2021; 71:406-414. [PMID: 33783928 DOI: 10.1111/pin.13092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal tubular basement membrane immune deposits (TBMID) are associated with progression of interstitial injury in renal allograft. However, the significance of monoclonal and polyclonal TBMID in the native kidney remains unclear. We retrospectively analyzed 1894 native kidney biopsies and 1724 zero-hour biopsies performed between 2008 and 2018 in our institution. The rate of immunoglobulin G (IgG) TBMID was found to be 8.4% among native kidney biopsies and 0.4% among zero-hour biopsies. Polyclonal TBMID is common in IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis (37.5%), diabetic nephropathy (31.3%) and lupus nephritis (25.5%). Monoclonal IgG TBMID was identified in seven cases, including three zero-hour biopsies. The combination of IgG1κ was observed in two cases, IgG1λ in three, and IgG2κ in two. Electron microscopy revealed powdery electron-dense deposits in all cases. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance was diagnosed in one case. Although one patient with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis developed renal failure, all others exhibited stable renal function. Monoclonal IgG TBMID in the native kidney is not associated with renal prognosis. However, this may be an interesting immunopathological finding that would help clarify the pathogenesis of TBM immune deposits. Further study for both monoclonal and polyclonal TBMID is required in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anri Sawada
- Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Surgical Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Okumi
- Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shigeru Horita
- Division of Clinical Pathology, Kidney Center, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomomi Tamura
- Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sekiko Taneda
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideki Ishida
- Department of Organ Transplant Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoshi Hattori
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunari Tanabe
- Department of Urology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kosaku Nitta
- Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuho Honda
- Department of Anatomy, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junki Koike
- Department of Pathology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoji Nagashima
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Shimizu
- Department of Analytic Human Pathology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
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29
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Mechanisms of Primary Membranous Nephropathy. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11040513. [PMID: 33808418 PMCID: PMC8065962 DOI: 10.3390/biom11040513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease of the kidney glomerulus and one of the leading causes of nephrotic syndrome. The disease exhibits heterogenous outcomes with approximately 30% of cases progressing to end-stage renal disease. The clinical management of MN has steadily advanced owing to the identification of autoantibodies to the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) in 2009 and thrombospondin domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) in 2014 on the podocyte surface. Approximately 50–80% and 3–5% of primary MN (PMN) cases are associated with either anti-PLA2R or anti-THSD7A antibodies, respectively. The presence of these autoantibodies is used for MN diagnosis; antibody levels correlate with disease severity and possess significant biomarker values in monitoring disease progression and treatment response. Importantly, both autoantibodies are causative to MN. Additionally, evidence is emerging that NELL-1 is associated with 5–10% of PMN cases that are PLA2R- and THSD7A-negative, which moves us one step closer to mapping out the full spectrum of PMN antigens. Recent developments suggest exostosin 1 (EXT1), EXT2, NELL-1, and contactin 1 (CNTN1) are associated with MN. Genetic factors and other mechanisms are in place to regulate these factors and may contribute to MN pathogenesis. This review will discuss recent developments over the past 5 years.
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30
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Tesar V, Hruskova Z. Autoantibodies in the Diagnosis, Monitoring, and Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy. Front Immunol 2021; 12:593288. [PMID: 33828546 PMCID: PMC8019786 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.593288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of anti-podocyte antibodies in primary membranous nephropathy (MN) has revolutionized our approach toward the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. Evaluation of serum levels of anti-podocyte antibodies paved the way for non-invasive diagnosis and helped distinguish between primary and secondary MN although the relationship between anti-podocyte antibodies and cancer remains to be elucidated. Serum levels of anti-PLA2R antibodies directed against the major podocyte autoantigen are related to MN activity and the decrease in serum levels of anti-PLA2R antibodies in response to treatment (immunologic remission) also serves as an early indicator of the later putative proteinuric remission, enabling personalization of the treatment. The serum levels of anti-podocyte antibodies also enable the prediction of renal outcomes in terms of both remission and the risk of progression to end-stage renal disease. The positivity of anti-PLA2R antibodies before renal transplantation is associated with the risk of recurrence of MN. It remains to be established if all these relations observed in patients with anti-PLA2R antibodies are also valid for expanding spectrum of antibodies directed against recently discovered minor antigens (e.g., THSD7A, NELL-1, semaphorin 3B).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir Tesar
- Department of Nephrology, 1st Faculty of Medicine, General University Hospital, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
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31
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Reinhard L, Stahl RAK, Hoxha E. Is primary membranous nephropathy a complement mediated disease? Mol Immunol 2020; 128:195-204. [PMID: 33142137 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2020.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an immune complex mediated disease. Although limited to the kidney, in up to 20% of patients MN is associated with other autoimmune, infectious or malignant diseases. The initial pathogenetic event in what is still considered "primary" MN is the binding of circulating autoantibodies to proteins (autoantigens) expressed in glomerular podocytes. This antibody binding leads to the formation of immune complexes in the glomerular basement membrane. There is clinical and experimental evidence that these immune deposits lead to the activation of the complement system. Experimental studies in the MN model of Heymann's nephritis show that the terminal membrane attack complex (MAC) of the complement system induces a disturbance of the glomerular filtration barrier and leads to proteinuria, the clinical hallmark of MN. After the discovery of the phospholipase A2 receptor 1 and thrombospondin type 1 domain containing protein 7A as endogenous antigens, it is assumed that IgG4 antibodies directed against these proteins induce MN in over 85% of patients with primary MN. As a result, the role of complement in the pathogenesis of MN needs to be defined in light of these developments. In this review we describe the current knowledge on the function of the complement system in primary MN and discuss the open questions, which have to be solved for a better understanding of the potential role of complement in the pathophysiology of primary MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Reinhard
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Rolf A K Stahl
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Elion Hoxha
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246, Hamburg, Germany.
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32
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Liu W, Gao C, Liu Z, Dai H, Feng Z, Dong Z, Zheng Y, Gao Y, Tian X, Liu B. Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy: Glomerular Pathological Pattern Caused by Extrarenal Immunity Activity. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1846. [PMID: 33042109 PMCID: PMC7524879 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01846] [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] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is a pathological pattern of glomerular damage caused by an autoimmune response. Immune complex deposition, thickness of glomerular basement membrane, and changes in the podocyte morphology are responsible for the development of proteinuria, which is caused by the targeted binding of auto-antibodies to podocytes. Several auto-antigens have recently been identified in IMN, including M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1), thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL-1). The measurement of peripheral circulating antibodies has become an important clinical reference index. However, some clinical features of IMN remain elusive and need to be further investigated, such as the autoimmunity initiation, IgG4 predominance, spontaneous remission, and the unique glomerular lesion. As these unresolved issues are closely related to clinical practice, we have proposed a hypothetical pathogenesis model of IMN. Induced by environmental stimuli or other causes, the PLA2R1 antigen and/or THSD7A antigen exposed to extrarenal tissues, such as lungs, then produce the auto-antibodies that target and cause damage to the podocytes in circulation. In this review, we highlighted the potential association between environmental stimuli, immune activity, and glomerular lesions, the underlying basis for spontaneous immune and proteinuria remission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Gao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Liu
- Basic Medical College, Taishan Medical University, Tai'an, China
| | - Haoran Dai
- Beijing Chinese Medicine Hospital PingGu Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhendong Feng
- Shunyi Branch, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaocheng Dong
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Gao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuefei Tian
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Baoli Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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33
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Wanderley DC, Jones BD, Barbosa FAM, Araujo SDA. A rare case of PLA2R- and THSD7A-positive idiopathic membranous nephropathy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 42:254-258. [PMID: 31663595 PMCID: PMC7427638 DOI: 10.1590/2175-8239-jbn-2019-0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) is a frequent cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. In terms of etiology, the condition may be categorized as primary/idiopathic or secondary. Literature on the pathophysiology of IMN has indicated the presence of autoantibodies (PLA2R and THSD7A) directed against podocyte antigens. The detection of antibodies against a domain favors IMN. The presence of autoantibodies against one of the domains would in theory exclude the possibility of there being autoantibodies against the other domain. However, cases of patients with PLA2R- and THSD7A-positive disease have been recently reported, showing that antibodies against two targets may be concomitantly produced via yet unknown pathophysiological mechanisms. This study reports the case of a 46-year-old male patient with nephrotic-range proteinuria, hematuria, hypoalbuminemia, and hypercholesterolemia submitted to biopsy and histopathology examination (LM, IF, IHC, and EM) eventually diagnosed with PLA2R- and THSD7A-positive IMN associated with IgA nephropathy, stressing our experience with the use of IgG subclasses, PLA2R, and THSD7A in the workup for MN and the relevance of adopting a broad and adequate approach to elucidating and acquiring knowledge of the pathophysiology of IMN.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Campos Wanderley
- Instituto de Nefropatologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | | | | | - Stanley de Almeida Araujo
- Instituto de Nefropatologia, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Centro de Microscopia Eletrônica, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
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Hanset N, Aydin S, Demoulin N, Cosyns JP, Castanares-Zapatero D, Crott R, Cambier JF, Pochet JM, Gillerot G, Reginster F, Houssiau F, Debiec H, Ronco P, Jadoul M, Morelle J. Podocyte Antigen Staining to Identify Distinct Phenotypes and Outcomes in Membranous Nephropathy: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study. Am J Kidney Dis 2020; 76:624-635. [PMID: 32668319 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2020.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE Membranous nephropathy (MN) is characterized by the deposition of immune complexes along glomerular basement membranes. M-Type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R), thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A), exostosin 1 and 2 (EXT1/2), and neural epidermal growth factor-like 1 protein (NELL-1) have been identified as established or potential podocyte antigens in MN. We investigated the association of podocyte antigen staining with MN clinical phenotype and outcomes. STUDY DESIGN Multicenter retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 177 consecutive patients with MN unrelated to lupus erythematosus, identified after screening of 3,875 native kidney biopsies performed in the Belgian UCLouvain Kidney Disease Network from 2000 through 2018. PREDICTOR Positive immunostaining for podocyte antigens on archived kidney biopsy samples. OUTCOMES Association with different phenotypes (baseline characteristics of patients and pathologic findings on kidney biopsy), time to cancer and to kidney failure. ANALYTICAL APPROACH Kaplan-Meier estimates and Cox regression analyses to assess time to cancer and kidney failure. RESULTS 177 patients were followed up for a median of 4.0 (IQR, 1.3-8.0) years. Diagnosis of PLA2R-positive (PLA2R+), THSD7A+, and double-negative (PLA2R-/THSD7A-) MN was made in 117 (66.1%), 6 (3.4%), and 54 (30.5%) patients, respectively. Progression to kidney failure was similar in all groups. Although the number of patients with THSD7A+MN was small, they showed a higher incidence (50%) and increased risk for developing cancer during follow-up (adjusted HR, 5.0 [95% CI, 1.4-17.9]; P=0.01). 8% and 5% of patients with double-negative MN stained positively for EXT1/2 and NELL-1, respectively. Most patients with EXT1/2+MN were women, had features of systemic autoimmunity, and showed glomerular C1q deposits. LIMITATIONS Retrospective design; small number of patients in the THSD7A group; lack of evaluation of immunoglobulin G subclasses deposition. CONCLUSIONS Our real-world data describe the relative prevalence of subgroups of MN and support the hypothesis that a novel classification of MN based on podocyte antigen staining may be clinically relevant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Hanset
- Division of Nephrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Selda Aydin
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Pathology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Demoulin
- Division of Nephrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Cosyns
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium; Department of Pathology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Ralph Crott
- Consultant in Biostatistics, Colombiers, France
| | | | - Jean-Michel Pochet
- Division of Nephrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Centre Hospitalier Universitaire UCLouvain-Namur, Namur, Belgium
| | | | | | - Frédéric Houssiau
- Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium; Division of Rheumatology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hanna Debiec
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 06, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité Mixte de Recherche S 1155, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Ronco
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie Paris 06, Paris, France; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Unité Mixte de Recherche S 1155, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Jour de Néphrologie, Hôpital Tenon, Paris, France
| | - Michel Jadoul
- Division of Nephrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johann Morelle
- Division of Nephrology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium; Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium.
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Xu Z, Chen L, Xiang H, Zhang C, Xiong J. Advances in Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy. KIDNEY DISEASES 2020; 6:330-345. [PMID: 33490113 DOI: 10.1159/000507704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Membranous nephropathy (MN), a major cause of nephrotic syndrome, has attracted people's attention in recent years for its growing prevalence. It is the second or third leading cause of ESRD in patients with primary glomerulonephritis and is the leading glomerulopathy that recurs after kidney transplantation. Summary MN can be classified as idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and secondary MN. The discovery of the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A) provides the new diagnostic methods and treatment strategies for IMN on the molecular level. The study on single nucleotide polymorphism of IMN genes, such as the single M-type phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) gene and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene, explains the pathogenesis of the disease from the perspective of genetics and conforms to the trend of the era of precision medicine. Key Messages This review focuses on advances in the pathogenesis of IMN, including molecular and genetic pathogenesis, as well as discussing the diagnostic and treatment guiding value brought by these new discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifeng Xu
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Huiling Xiang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chun Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Xiong
- Department of Nephrology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Continuous expansion of our knowledge in the pathogenesis of membranous nephropathy possible by the identification of antibodies recognized specific podocytes antigens results in unprecedent patient management strategy. RECENT FINDINGS Circulating anti-phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and anti-thrombospondin domain 7A (THSD7A) antibodies strongly relate with the modifications of podocytes biology leading to the new molecular diagnosis of membranous nephropathy. Immunization against THSD7A involves extra-renal mechanism. However, the pathway of anti-PLA2R immunization still remains unresolved. Experimental data highlight the crucial role of THSD7A in the attachment of podocytes to the glomerular basement membrane, rewarding the THSD7A pathogenicity, whereas the third of Koch's postulates is still not fulfilled for anti-PLA2R antibodies. The anti-PLA2R antibodies epitope spreading will possibly be even more specific marker improving the molecular classification of membranous nephropathy. Two immune epitopes have been identified in the N-terminal tail of THSD7A but without evidence of epitope spreading as for anti-PLA2R. SUMMARY In 2019, the Kidney Diseases: Improving Global Outcomes guidelines recognized anti-PLA2R antibodies (but not anti-THSD7A antibodies) as a valuable molecular risk factor for the pejorative evolution of kidney function and recommended their monitoring for the diagnosis and the assessment of membranous nephropathy immune activity. Screening for malignancy is particularly advised in THSD7A-mediated membranous nephropathy.
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Anti-PLA2R1 Antibodies Containing Sera Induce In Vitro Cytotoxicity Mediated by Complement Activation. J Immunol Res 2019; 2019:1324804. [PMID: 32083137 PMCID: PMC7012209 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1324804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) is the major autoantigen in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (MN). However, the pathogenic role of anti-PLA2R1 autoantibodies is unclear. Our aim was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxicity of anti-PLA2R1 antibodies mediated by complement. Forty-eight patients with PLA2R1-related MN from the prospective cohort SOURIS were included. Anti-PLA2R1 titer, epitope profile, and anti-PLA2R1 IgG subclasses were characterized by ELISA. Cell cytotoxicity was evaluated by immunofluorescence in HEK293 cells overexpressing PLA2R1 incubated with patient or healthy donor sera in the presence or absence of rabbit complement or complement inhibitors. Mean cytotoxicity of anti-PLA2R1 sera for HEK293 cells overexpressing PLA2R1 was 2 ± 2%, which increased to 24 ± 6% after addition of rabbit complement (p < 0.001) (n = 48). GVB-EDTA, which inhibits all complement activation pathways, completely blocked cell cytotoxicity, whereas Mg-EGTA, which only inhibits the classical and lectin pathways, highly decreased suggesting a limited role of the alternative pathway. A higher diversity of IgG subclasses beyond IgG4 and high titer of total IgG anti-PLA2R1 were associated with increased cytotoxicity (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03 respectively). In a cohort of 37 patients treated with rituximab, high level of complement-mediated cytotoxicity was associated with less and delayed remission at month 6 after rituximab therapy (5/12 vs. 20/25 (p = 0.03) in 8.5 months ± 4.4 vs. 4.8 ± 4.0 (p = 0.02)). Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that high level of cytotoxicity (≥40%) (p = 0.005), epitope spreading (defined by immunization beyond the immunodominant CysR domain) (p = 0.002), and high titer of anti-PLA2R1 total IgG (p = 0.01) were factors of poor renal prognosis. Anti-PLA2R1 antibodies containing sera can induce in vitro cytotoxicity mediated by complement activation, and the level of cytotoxicity increases with the diversity and the titer of anti-PLA2R1 IgG subclasses. These patients with high level of complement-mediated cytotoxicity could benefit from adjuvant therapy using complement inhibitor associated with rituximab to induce earlier remission and less podocyte injury.
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Reinhard L, Zahner G, Menzel S, Koch-Nolte F, Stahl RAK, Hoxha E. Clinical Relevance of Domain-Specific Phospholipase A 2 Receptor 1 Antibody Levels in Patients with Membranous Nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol 2019; 31:197-207. [PMID: 31843985 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2019030273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antibodies against phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) are found in 80% of patients with membranous nephropathy, and previous studies described three autoantibody-targeted PLA2R1 epitope regions. Although anti-PLA2R1 antibody levels are closely associated with treatment response and disease prognosis, the clinical role of epitope regions targeted by autoantibodies is unclear. METHODS In a prospective cohort of 150 patients with newly diagnosed PLA2R1-associated membranous nephropathy, we investigated the clinical role of epitope-recognition patterns and domain-specific PLA2R1 antibody levels by western blot and ELISA. RESULTS We identified a fourth epitope region in the CTLD8 domain of PLA2R1, which was recognized by anti-PLA2R1 antibodies in 24 (16.0%) patients. In all study patients, anti-PLA2R1 antibodies bound both the N-terminal (CysR-FnII-CTLD1) region and the C-terminal (CTLD7-CTLD8) region of PLA2R1 at study enrollment. The total anti-PLA2R1 antibody levels of patients determined detection of domain-specific PLA2R1 antibodies, and thereby epitope-recognition patterns. A remission of proteinuria occurred in 133 (89%) patients and was not dependent on the domain-recognition profiles. A newly developed ELISA showed that domain-specific PLA2R1 antibody levels targeting CysR, CTLD1, and CTLD7 strongly correlate with the total anti-PLA2R1 antibody level (Spearman's rho, 0.95, 0.64, and 0.40; P<0.001, P<0.001, and P=0.002, respectively) but do not predict disease outcome independently of total anti-PLA2R1 antibody levels. CONCLUSIONS All patients with PLA2R1-associated membranous nephropathy recognize at least two epitope regions in the N- and C-terminals of PLA2R1 at diagnosis, contradicting the hypothesis that PLA2R1 "epitope spreading" determines the prognosis of membranous nephropathy. Total anti-PLA2R1 antibody levels, but not the epitope-recognition profiles at the time of diagnosis, are relevant for the clinical outcome of patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephan Menzel
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Friedrich Koch-Nolte
- Institute of Immunology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Liu X, Bai Y, Zhou X, Gu X, Zhao L. Complete remission of membranous nephropathy in a patient with lung adenocarcinoma treated with erlotinib. J Clin Pharm Ther 2019; 45:388-393. [PMID: 31730733 DOI: 10.1111/jcpt.13078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE Membranous nephrotic syndrome is one of the most commonly seen paraneoplastic nephropathies. CASE DESCRIPTION We describe a 59-year-old man who was referred with massive unilateral pleural effusion and was subsequently diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma. Routine physical and laboratory examinations revealed lower limb oedema, hypoproteinaemia and proteinuria. Examination of a kidney biopsy aspirate confirmed the diagnosis of membranous nephropathy. Aetiological investigations of the kidney pathology ruled out causes other than paraneoplastic nephropathy. Since an epidermal growth factor receptor mutation was identified by analysis of the exfoliated tumour cells in pleural effusion, erlotinib was administered, without further treatment of the membranous nephropathy. Upon control of the patient's lung cancer, the membranous nephropathy completely disappeared, and at the time of this writing, had not recurred over a 4-year follow-up period. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION For patients with EGFR-mutation-positive lung adenocarcinoma associated with paraneoplastic membranous nephropathy, erlotinib might serve as a treatment option for both the tumour and the membranous nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Nephropathy, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiu Gu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Zipfel PF, Wiech T, Rudnick R, Afonso S, Person F, Skerka C. Complement Inhibitors in Clinical Trials for Glomerular Diseases. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2166. [PMID: 31611870 PMCID: PMC6776600 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Defective complement action is a cause of several human glomerular diseases including atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody mediated vasculitis (ANCA), C3 glomerulopathy, IgA nephropathy, immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, ischemic reperfusion injury, lupus nephritis, membranous nephropathy, and chronic transplant mediated glomerulopathy. Here we summarize ongoing clinical trials of complement inhibitors in nine glomerular diseases and show which inhibitors are used in trials for these renal disorders (http://clinicaltrials.gov).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter F Zipfel
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany.,Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Thorsten Wiech
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ramona Rudnick
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
| | - Sara Afonso
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
| | - Fermin Person
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christine Skerka
- Department of Infection Biology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
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Weinmann-Menke J, Holtz S, Sollinger D, Dörken M, Boedecker S, Schamberger B, Pfister F, Amann K, Lutz J. Treatment of Membranous Nephropathy in Patients With THSD7A Antibodies Using Immunoadsorption. Am J Kidney Dis 2019; 74:849-852. [PMID: 31451329 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 05/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Antibodies against THSD7A (thrombospondin type 1 domain-containing protein 7A) have been proposed to play a causal role in the development of nephrotic syndrome in patients with THSD7A antibody-positive membranous nephropathy. We hypothesized that removal of these antibodies from plasma could lead to a rapid reduction in proteinuria. Using immunoadsorption to reduce THSD7A antibodies led to a rapid reduction in proteinuria in 2 patients with THSD7A antibody-positive membranous nephropathy. Moreover, our findings support and strengthen the pathogenic role of the antibodies in the development of nephrotic syndrome in patients with THSD7A antibody-positive membranous nephropathy. Taken together, these 2 cases suggest that immunoadsorption could be a useful tool in the treatment of patients with THSD7A antibody-positive membranous nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Weinmann-Menke
- Division of Nephrology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Stefan Holtz
- Division of Nephrology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Daniel Sollinger
- Division of Nephrology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mara Dörken
- Division of Nephrology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Simone Boedecker
- Division of Nephrology, I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Beate Schamberger
- Medical Clinic, Nephrology-Infectious Diseases, Gemeinschaftsklinikum Mittelrhein, Koblenz, Germany
| | - Frederick Pfister
- Section of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Amann
- Section of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jens Lutz
- Medical Clinic, Nephrology-Infectious Diseases, Gemeinschaftsklinikum Mittelrhein, Koblenz, Germany.
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Liu W, Gao C, Dai H, Zheng Y, Dong Z, Gao Y, Liu F, Zhang Z, Liu Z, Liu W, Liu B, Liu Q, Shi J. Immunological Pathogenesis of Membranous Nephropathy: Focus on PLA2R1 and Its Role. Front Immunol 2019; 10:1809. [PMID: 31447839 PMCID: PMC6691064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.01809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the major cause of nephrotic syndrome with special pathological features, caused by the formation of immune complexes in the space between podocytes and the glomerular basement membrane. In idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) the immune complexes are formed by circulating antibodies binding mainly to one of two naturally-expressed podocyte antigens: the M-type receptor for secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2R1) and the Thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A). Formation of antibodies against PLA2R1 is much more common, accounting for 70-80% of IMN. However, the mechanism of anti-podocyte antibody production in IMN is still unclear. In this review, we emphasize that the exposure of PLA2R1 is critical for triggering the pathogenesis of PLA2R1-associated MN, and propose the potential association between inflammation, pollution and PLA2R1. Our review aims to clarify the current research of these precipitating factors in a way that may suggest future directions for discovering the pathogenesis of MN, leading to additional therapeutic targets and strategies for the prevention and early treatment of MN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chang Gao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haoran Dai
- Shunyi Branch, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zheng
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaocheng Dong
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Gao
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | | | - Weijing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Baoli Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qingquan Liu
- Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jialan Shi
- Departments of Medicine, VA Boston Healthcare System, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Stahl RAK, Hoxha E. [Membranous glomerulonephritis : An example of individualized medicine in nephrology]. Internist (Berl) 2019; 60:440-449. [PMID: 30859275 DOI: 10.1007/s00108-019-0573-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) is the most frequent cause of a nephrotic syndrome in adults. It is an autoimmune disease caused by binding of autoantibodies to endogenous proteins expressed on glomerular podocytes. Antibody binding and activation of inflammatory mediators result in the onset of proteinuria. Recently, two endogenous podocytic target antigens in MGN have been characterized and their clinical role is a main focus of research in nephrology. OBJECTIVE The discovery that antibodies against phospholipase A2 receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and thrombospondin type 1 domain containing 7A (THSD7A) mediate the pathogenesis of MGN leads to the question of what clinical role these antibodies have in patients with MGN. MATERIAL AND METHODS Evidence published in recent years on the role of the described antigens is analyzed and critically discussed. The clinical conclusions derived for patients with MGN are presented. RESULTS Antibodies against PLA2R1 are detectable in approximately 80% of patients with MGN, while 2-3% of patients have antibodies against THSD7A. Serum analyses of antibodies and immunohistological staining in kidney biopsies enable an almost 100% certain diagnosis of PLA2R1 and THSD7A-mediated MGN. Serum levels of PLA2R1 antibodies are predictors for the response to therapy, determine the prognosis and allow an exact individualized monitoring of treatment. The THSD7A antibodies are associated with an increased prevalence of malignant tumors and play a pathogenetic role in the genesis of this secondary form of MGN. CONCLUSION The characterization of the antibodies responsible for the development of MGN is an example of precision medicine in nephrology and the foundation for the development of new, curative treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rolf A K Stahl
- Zentrum für Innere Medizin, lll. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland.
| | - Elion Hoxha
- Zentrum für Innere Medizin, lll. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246, Hamburg, Deutschland
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