ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO306

Binding of Anti-dsDNA Antibodies to Major Vault Protein of Proximal Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells Resulted in Increased Fibronectin Expression and MCP-1 Secretion

Session Information

Category: Cell Biology

  • 204 Extracellular Matrix Biology, Fibrosis, Cell Adhesion

Authors

  • Yung, Susan, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
  • Ho, Shirli S. K., The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
  • Chun, Abel, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
  • Au, Kin Yi, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
  • Cheung, Kwok Fan, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
  • Chau, Mel, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
  • Chan, Daniel Tak Mao, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, Hong Kong
Background

Anti-dsDNA antibodies deposit in the kidney parenchyma in lupus nephritis. In addition to complement activation by immune complexes and activation of downstream pro-inflammatory mechanisms, whether these antibodies could directly induce organ damage remains controversial. We investigated the binding of human anti-dsDNA antibodies to proximal renal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) and the downstream impact on cell functions.

Methods

Human polyclonal anti-dsDNA antibodies were isolated from the sera of lupus nephritis patients using affinity chromatography and those with high binding affinity to PTEC were selected for further studies. PTEC membrane, cytosolic and nuclear proteins were isolated and immunoprecipitated with anti-dsDNA antibodies to identify cross-reactive antigens using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Results

Anti-dsDNA antibodies bound to a 100 kDa protein, identified as major vault protein (MVP), which was present in the cytosolic and nuclear fractions, but not in the plasma membrane fraction. Incubation of PTEC with anti-dsDNA antibodies increased MVP expression, as determined by Western blot analysis, in a time-dependent manner (P<0.001, for 24h), and accompanied by increased fibronectin expression (P<0.01) and MCP-1 secretion (P<0.05) compared to cells incubated with IgG from healthy controls. Immunohistochemical studies showed predominantly perinuclear localization of MVP and weak intracellular expression of fibronectin under basal conditions. MVP overexpression in PTEC, by transfection with MVP plasmid, resulted in clustering of MVP in the cytoplasm, which was accompanied by fibronectin accumulation in the extracellular matrix and increased MCP-1 secretion (P<0.01). MVP gene silencing using RNAi resulted in 40% reduction in fibronectin expression and 53% reduction in MCP-1 secretion. Kidney biopsies from lupus nephritis patients showed markedly increased MVP expression, predominantly on proximal tubular epithelial cells.

Conclusion

Our data showed that anti-dsDNA antibody binding to MVP in PTEC was associated with downstream inflammatory and fibrogenic processes.

Funding

  • Government Support - Non-U.S.