[HTML][HTML] IgA1-containing immune complexes in IgA nephropathy differentially affect proliferation of mesangial cells

J Novak, M Tomana, R Brown, S Hall, L Novak… - Kidney international, 2005 - Elsevier
J Novak, M Tomana, R Brown, S Hall, L Novak, BA Julian, RJ Wyatt, J Mestecky…
Kidney international, 2005Elsevier
IgA1-containing immune complexes in IgA nephropathy differentially affect proliferation of
mesangial cells. Background Sera of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) contain
circulating immune complexes (CIC) composed of galactose-deficient IgA1 complexed with
antiglycan antibodies. The role of these CIC in the pathogenesis of IgAN is not known.
Methods We studied how proliferation of cultured mesangial cells (MC) is affected by CIC
prepared from sera of IgAN patients and healthy control subjects using size-exclusion …
IgA1-containing immune complexes in IgA nephropathy differentially affect proliferation of mesangial cells.
Background
Sera of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) contain circulating immune complexes (CIC) composed of galactose-deficient IgA1 complexed with antiglycan antibodies. The role of these CIC in the pathogenesis of IgAN is not known.
Methods
We studied how proliferation of cultured mesangial cells (MC) is affected by CIC prepared from sera of IgAN patients and healthy control subjects using size-exclusion chromatography. CIC-containing fractions were added to serum-starved MC in culture, and cell proliferation was measured using 3H-thymidine incorporation. The results were confirmed by staining MC using an antibody against proliferating cell nuclear antigen.
Results
The incubation of starved MC with serum fractions with Mr 800 to 900 kD, rich with galactose-deficient IgA1, stimulated proliferation, while fractions with smaller complexes were inhibitory. Furthermore, CIC-containing larger molecular mass fractions isolated from serum of an IgAN patient collected during an episode of macroscopic hematuria stimulated MC proliferation more than CIC obtained during a subsequent quiescent phase. To examine the role of IgA, we removed IgA1 from serum before fractionation. The resultant IgA1-depleted fractions were devoid of stimulatory IgA-CIC. Sera of IgAN patients were also fractionated after addition of desialylated galactose-deficient polymeric IgA1 to form additional immune complexes. Supplementation with a small quantity of this IgA1 increased cellular proliferation in assays using serum fractions of Mr≥800 to 900 kD; uncomplexed IgA1 did not affect MC proliferation significantly. In contrast, supplementation with a larger quantity of this IgA1 inhibited cellular proliferation in assays using serum fractions of Mr 700 to 800 kD.
Conclusion
Overall, these findings suggest that CIC containing aberrantly glycosylated IgA1 affect proliferation of MC in vitro and, thus, likely play a role in the pathogenesis of IgAN.
Elsevier