Anti-C1q autoantibodies deposit in glomeruli but are only pathogenic in combination with glomerular C1q-containing immune complexes

The Role of Anti-mCRP Autoantibodies in Lupus Nephritis

Background

Lupus nephritis is characterized by multiple autoantibodies production. However, there are few autoantibodies associated with disease activity and prognosis. CRP exists in at least two conformationally distinct forms: native pentameric C-reactive protein (pCRP) and modified/monomeric CRP (mCRP). Autoantibodies against mCRP are prevalent in sera of patients with lupus nephritis and are reported to be pathogenic.

Summary

The levels of serum anti-mCRP autoantibodies are associated with clinical disease activity, tubulointerstitial lesions, treatment response, and prognosis in patients with lupus nephritis. The key epitope of mCRP was amino acid 35-47. Furthermore, emerging evidence indicated that anti-mCRP autoantibodies could participate in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis by forming in situ immune complexes or interfering with the biological functions of mCRP, such as binding to complement C1q and factor H.

Key Messages

Here, we review the recent advances in the prevalence, clinical-pathological associations, and potential pathogenesis of anti-mCRP autoantibodies in lupus nephritis, which may provide a promising novel therapeutic strategy for lupus nephritis.

Unleashing the power of complement activation: unraveling renal damage in human anti-glomerular basement membrane disease

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a rare but life-threatening autoimmune disorder characterized by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis with or without pulmonary hemorrhage. Renal biopsies of anti-GBM patients predominantly show linear deposition of IgG and complement component 3 (C3), indicating a close association between antigen-antibody reactions and subsequent complement activation in the pathogenesis of the disease. All three major pathways of complement activation, including the classical, lectin, and alternative pathways, are involved in human anti-GBM disease. Several complement factors, such as C3, C5b-9, and factor B, show a positive correlation with the severity of the renal injury and act as risk factors for renal outcomes. Furthermore, compared to patients with single positivity for anti-GBM antibodies, individuals who are double-seropositive for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) and anti-GBM antibodies exhibit a unique clinical phenotype that lies between ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and anti-GBM disease. Complement activation may serve as a potential "bridge" for triggering both AAV and anti-GBM conditions. The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive review of the latest clinical evidence regarding the role of complement activation in anti-GBM disease. Furthermore, potential therapeutic strategies targeting complement components and associated precautions are discussed, to establish a theoretical basis for complement-targeted therapies.

Anti-C1q autoantibodies from systemic lupus erythematosus patients enhance CD40-CD154-mediated inflammation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro

Objectives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically heterogeneous autoimmune disease with complex pathogenic mechanisms. Complement C1q has been shown to play a major role in SLE, and autoantibodies against C1q (anti‐C1q) are strongly associated with SLE disease activity and severe lupus nephritis suggesting a pathogenic role for anti‐C1q. Whereas C1q alone has anti‐inflammatory effects on human monocytes and macrophages, C1q/anti‐C1q complexes favor a pro‐inflammatory phenotype. This study aimed to elucidate the inflammatory effects of anti‐C1q on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

Methods

Isolated monocytes, isolated T cells and bulk PBMCs of healthy donors with or without concomitant T cell activation were exposed to C1q or complexes of C1q and SLE patient‐derived anti‐C1q (C1q/anti‐C1q). Functional consequences of C1q/anti‐C1q on cells were assessed by determining cytokine secretion, monocyte surface marker expression, T cell activation and proliferation.

Results

Exposure of isolated T cells to C1q or C1q/anti‐C1q did not affect their activation and proliferation. However, unspecific T cell activation in PBMCs in the presence of C1q/anti‐C1q resulted in increased TNF, IFN‐γ and IL‐10 secretion compared with C1q alone. Co‐culture and inhibition experiments showed that the inflammatory effect of C1q/anti‐C1q on PBMCs was due to a direct CD40–CD154 interaction between activated T cells and C1q/anti‐C1q‐primed monocytes. The CD40‐mediated inflammatory reaction of monocytes involves TRAF6 and JAK3‐STAT5 signalling.

Conclusion

In conclusion, C1q/anti‐C1q have a pro‐inflammatory effect on monocytes that depends on T cell activation and CD40–CD154 signalling. This signalling pathway could serve as a therapeutic target for anti‐C1q‐mediated inflammation.

Discovery of Novel Circulating Immune Complexes in Lupus Nephritis Using Immunoproteomics

Objective

The goal is to discover novel circulating immune complexes (ICx) in the serum of lupus nephritis (LN) as potential biomarkers.

Methods

Protein A/G magnetic beads or C1q-coated plates were used to capture ICx in the serum of LN, followed by the identification of immunoglobulin-binding proteins using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Bioinformatic approaches and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA Seq) databases were used to select potential candidate ICx markers in LN. The selected ICx markers were further validated using ELISA.

Results

A total of 300 immunoglobulin-binding proteins were discovered in the screening, among which 77 proteins were detectable only in LN samples. Bioinformatics-assisted selection allowed us to further identify 10 potential immunoglobulin-binding proteins, which form ICx as potential biomarkers in LN. In a validation cohort of 62 LN patients and 21 healthy controls (HC), we found that prolyl 3-hydroxylase 1 (P3H1), phosphatase and actin regulator 4 (PHACTR4), and regulator of G-protein signaling 12 (RGS12) ICx exhibited discriminative capability in distinguishing LN from HC, with an area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.82, 0.99, and 0.90, respectively. Furthermore, a biomarker panel comprising CD14, CD34, cystatin A, myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C), RGS12, and ubiquitin C (UBC) ICx could distinguish active LN from inactive LN with an AUC value of 0.85, which is comparable to or better than pathological parameters such as renal activity index (AI) and renal chronicity index (CI).

Conclusion

Immunoproteomics-based discovery studies have enabled us to identify circulating immune complexes as potential biomarkers of LN.

Circulating Levels of Anti-C1q and Anti-Factor H Autoantibodies and Their Targets in Normal Pregnancy and Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia (PE) generally manifests in the second half of pregnancy with hypertension and proteinuria. The understanding of the origin and mechanism behind PE is incomplete, although there is clearly an immune component to this disorder. The placenta constitutes a complicated immune interface between fetal and maternal cells, where regulation and tolerance are key. Stress factors from placental dysfunction in PE are released to the maternal circulation evoking the maternal response. Several complement factors play a role within this intricate landscape, including C1q in vascular remodeling and Factor H (FH) as the key regulator of alternative pathway complement activation. We hypothesize that decreased levels of C1q or FH, or disturbance of their function by autoantibodies, may be associated with PE. Autoantibodies against C1q and FH and the concentrations of C1q and FH were measured by ELISA in maternal sera from women with preeclamptic and normal pregnancies. Samples originated from cohorts collected in the Netherlands (n=63 PE; n=174 control pregnancies, n=51 nonpregnant), Finland (n=181 PE; n=63 control pregnancies) and Norway (n=59 PE; n=27 control pregnancies). Serum C1q and FH concentrations were higher in control pregnancy than in nonpregnant women. No significant differences were observed for serum C1q between preeclamptic and control pregnancy in any of the three cohorts. Serum levels of FH were lower in preeclamptic pregnancies compared to control pregnancies in two of the cohorts, this effect was driven by the early onset PE cases. Neither anti-C1q autoantibodies nor anti-FH autoantibodies levels differed between women with PE and normal pregnancies. In conclusion, levels of anti-C1q and anti-FH autoantibodies are not increased in PE. C1q and FH are increased in pregnancy, but importantly, a decrease in FH concentration is associated with PE.

Epitope-Specific Anti-C1q Autoantibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complement C1q is frequently targeted by autoantibodies (anti-C1q), that correlate best with active renal disease. Anti-C1q bind to largely unknown epitopes on the collagen-like region (CLR) of this highly functional molecule. Here we aimed at exploring the role of epitope-specific anti-C1q in SLE patients.

Methods

First, 22 sera of SLE patients, healthy controls and anti-C1q positive patients without SLE were screened for anti-C1q epitopes by a PEPperMAP^® microarray, expressing CLR of C1q derived peptides with one amino acid (AA) shift in different lengths and conformations. Afterwards, samples of 378 SLE patients and 100 healthy blood donors were analyzed for antibodies against the identified epitopes by peptide-based ELISA. Relationships between peptide-specific autoantibodies and SLE disease manifestations were explored by logistic regression models.

Results

The epitope mapping showed increased IgG binding to three peptides of the C1q A- and three of the C1q B-chain. In subsequent peptide-based ELISAs, SLE sera showed significantly higher binding to two N-terminally located C1q A-chain peptides than controls (p < 0.0001), but not to the other peptides. While anti-C1q were associated with a broad spectrum of disease manifestations, some of the peptide-antibodies were associated with selected disease manifestations, and antibodies against the N-terminal C1q A-chain showed a stronger discrimination between SLE and controls than conventional anti-C1q.

Conclusion

In this large explorative study anti-C1q correlate with SLE overall disease activity. In contrast, peptide-antibodies are associated with specific aspects of the disease suggesting epitope-specific effects of anti-C1q in patients with SLE.

Circadian rhythms and renal pathophysiology

The reality of life in modern times is that our internal circadian rhythms are often out of alignment with the light/dark cycle of the external environment. This is known as circadian disruption, and a wealth of epidemiological evidence shows that it is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease remains the top cause of death in the United States, and kidney disease in particular is a tremendous public health burden that contributes to cardiovascular deaths. There is an urgent need for new treatments for kidney disease; circadian rhythm-based therapies may be of potential benefit. The goal of this Review is to summarize the existing data that demonstrate a connection between circadian rhythm disruption and renal impairment in humans. Specifically, we will focus on chronic kidney disease, lupus nephritis, hypertension, and aging. Importantly, the relationship between circadian dysfunction and pathophysiology is thought to be bidirectional. Here we discuss the gaps in our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying circadian dysfunction in diseases of the kidney. Finally, we provide a brief overview of potential circadian rhythm-based interventions that could provide benefit in renal disease.

Anti-Idiotype scFv Localizes an Autoepitope in the Globular Domain of C1q

We addressed the issue of C1q autoantigenicity by studying the structural features of the autoepitopes recognized by the polyclonal anti-C1q antibodies present in Lupus Nephritis (LN) sera. We used six fractions of anti-C1q as antigens and selected anti-idiotypic scFv antibodies from the phage library "Griffin.1". The monoclonal scFv A1 was the most potent inhibitor of the recognition of C1q and its fragments ghA, ghB and ghC, comprising the globular domain gC1q, by the lupus autoantibodies. It was sequenced and in silico folded by molecular dynamics into a 3D structure. The generated 3D model of A1 elucidated CDR similarity to the apical region of gC1q, thus mapping indirectly for the first time a globular autoepitope of C1q. The V_H CDR2 of A1 mimicked the ghA sequence GSEAD suggested as a cross-epitope between anti-DNA and anti-C1q antibodies. Other potential inhibitors of the recognition of C1q by the LN autoantibodies among the selected recombinant antibodies were the monoclonal scFv F6, F9 and A12.

Autoantibodies against complement component C1q in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the archetype of a systemic autoimmune disease, but the multifaceted pathogenic mechanisms leading to inflammation and organ damage are not fully understood. Homozygous deficiency of complement C1q, the first component of the classical pathway of complement, is strongly associated with the development of SLE, thus pointing at a primarily protective role of C1q. However, while most SLE patients do not have hereditary C1q deficiency, there is indirect evidence for the importance of C1q in the inflammatory processes of the disease, including hypocomplementemia as a result of activation via the classical pathway, deposition of C1q in affected tissues and the occurrence of autoantibodies against C1q (anti‐C1q). The growing body of knowledge on anti‐C1q led to the establishment of a biomarker that is used in the routine clinical care of SLE patients. Exploring the binding characteristics of anti‐C1q allows to understand the mechanisms, that lead to the expression of relevant autoantigenic structures and the role of genetic as well as environmental factors. Lastly, the analysis of the pathophysiological consequences of anti‐C1q is of importance because C1q, the target of anti‐C1q, is a highly functional molecule whose downstream effects are altered by the binding of the autoantibody. This review summarises current study data on anti‐C1q and their implications for the understanding of SLE.

Iron Metabolism: An Under Investigated Driver of Renal Pathology in Lupus Nephritis

Nephritis is a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus, a condition associated with inflammation and iron imbalance. Renal tubules are the work horse of the nephron. They contain a large number of mitochondria that require iron for oxidative phosphorylation, and a tight control of intracellular iron prevents excessive generation of reactive oxygen species. Iron supply to the kidney is dependent on systemic iron availability, which is regulated by the hepcidin-ferroportin axis. Most of the filtered plasma iron is reabsorbed in proximal tubules, a process that is controlled in part by iron regulatory proteins. This review summarizes tubulointerstitial injury in lupus nephritis and current understanding of how renal tubular cells regulate intracellular iron levels, highlighting the role of iron imbalance in the proximal tubules as a driver of tubulointerstitial injury in lupus nephritis. We propose a model based on the dynamic ability of iron to catalyze reactive oxygen species, which can lead to an accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides in proximal tubular epithelial cells. These iron-catalyzed oxidative species can also accentuate protein and autoantibody-induced inflammatory transcription factors leading to matrix, cytokine/chemokine production and immune cell infiltration. This could potentially explain the interplay between increased glomerular permeability and the ensuing tubular injury, tubulointerstitial inflammation and progression to renal failure in LN, and open new avenues of research to develop novel therapies targeting iron metabolism.

Autoimmunity in Acute Poststreptococcal GN: A Neglected Aspect of the Disease

Acute poststreptococcal GN (APSGN) is the prototype of immune complex GN and is associated with manifestations of autoimmune reactivity that have been neglected as epiphenomena. Recently, studies have demonstrated transient antifactor B autoantibodies that activate the alternative complement pathway, bringing self-immunity to a central position in the pathogenesis of APSGN. Therefore, examining other manifestations of autoimmunity that have been reported in association with poststreptococcal GN is of interest. This article reviews the renal and extrarenal manifestations of autoimmune reactivity in APSGN and considers their potential relevance in modifying the usually benign clinical course of the disease. It also discusses related aspects of the nephritogenic antigens, complement activation, and genetic elements associated with immune reactivity and their potential relevance to the familial incidence of the disease.

A reverse translational study on the effect of rituximab, rituximab plus belimumab, or bortezomib on the humoral autoimmune response in SLE

Objectives

SLE is a severe autoimmune disease characterized by autoreactive B cells and IC formation, which causes systemic inflammation. B cell–targeted therapy could be a promising treatment strategy in SLE patients; nevertheless, randomized clinical trials have not always been successful. However, some groups have demonstrated beneficial effects in severe SLE patients with off-label rituximab (RTX) with belimumab (BLM), or bortezomib (BTZ), which targeted different B cells subsets. This study assembled sera from SLE cohorts treated with RTX+BLM (n = 15), BTZ (n = 11) and RTX (n = 16) to get an in-depth insight into the immunological effects of these therapies on autoantibodies and IC formation.

Methods

Autoantibodies relevant for IC formation and the avidity of anti-dsDNA were determined by ELISA. IC-mediated inflammation was studied by complement levels and ex vivo serum-induced neutrophil extracellular trap formation.

Results

Reductions in autoantibodies were observed after all approaches, but the spectrum differed depending upon the treatment. Specifically, only RTX+BLM significantly decreased anti-C1q. Achieving seronegativity of ≥1 autoantibody, specifically anti-C1q, was associated with lower disease activity. In all SLE patients, the majority of anti-dsDNA autoantibodies had low avidity. RTX+BLM significantly reduced low-, medium- and high-avidity anti-dsDNA, while RTX and BTZ only significantly reduced medium avidity. IC-mediated inflammation, measured by C3 levels and neutrophil extracellular trap formation, improved after RTX+BLM and RTX but less after BTZ.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the impact of different B cell–targeted strategies on autoantibodies and IC formation and their potential clinical relevance in SLE.

Kidney Involvement in Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome-A Case-Based Review

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS), or McDuffie syndrome, is a rare small vessel vasculitis associated with urticaria, hypocomplementemia and positivity of anti-C1q antibodies. In rare cases, HUVS can manifest as an immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis with a membranoproliferative pattern of injury. Due to the rarity of this disorder, little is known about the clinical manifestation, pathogenesis, treatment response and outcome of such patients. We describe here three cases of HUVS with severe renal involvement. These patients had a rapidly progressive form of glomerulonephritis with severe nephrotic syndrome against a background of a membranoproliferative pattern of glomerular injury with extensive crescent formation. Therefore, these patients required aggressive induction and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy, with a clinical and renal response in two patients, while the third patient progressed to end-stage renal disease. Because of the rarity of this condition, there are few data regarding the clinical presentation, pathology and outcome of such patients. Accordingly, we provide an extensive literature review of cases reported from 1976 until 2020 and place them in the context of the current knowledge of HUVS pathogenesis. We identified 60 patients with HUVS and renal involvement that had adequate clinical data reported, out of which 52 patients underwent a percutaneous kidney biopsy. The most frequent renal manifestation was hematuria associated with proteinuria (70% of patients), while one third had abnormal kidney function on presentation (estimated glomerular filtration (GFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m²). The most frequent glomerular pattern of injury was membranoproliferative (35%), followed by mesangioproliferative (21%) and membranous (19%). Similar to other systemic vasculitis, renal involvement carries a poorer prognosis, but the outcome can be improved by aggressive immunosuppressive treatment.

Classical complement cascade initiating C1q protein within neurons in the aged rhesus macaque dorsolateral prefrontal cortex

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment in schizophrenia, aging, and Alzheimer's disease is associated with spine and synapse loss from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) layer III. Complement cascade signaling is critical in driving spine loss and disease pathogenesis. Complement signaling is initiated by C1q, which tags synapses for elimination. C1q is thought to be expressed predominately by microglia, but its expression in primate dlPFC has never been examined. The current study assayed C1q levels in aging primate dlPFC and rat medial PFC (mPFC) and used immunoelectron microscopy (immunoEM), immunoblotting, and co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) to reveal the precise anatomical distribution and interactions of C1q.

METHODS

Age-related changes in C1q levels in rhesus macaque dlPFC and rat mPFC were examined using immunoblotting. High-spatial resolution immunoEM was used to interrogate the subcellular localization of C1q in aged macaque layer III dlPFC and aged rat layer III mPFC. co-IP techniques quantified protein-protein interactions for C1q and proteins associated with excitatory and inhibitory synapses in macaque dlPFC.

RESULTS

C1q levels were markedly increased in the aged macaque dlPFC. Ultrastructural localization found the expected C1q localization in glia, including those ensheathing synapses, but also revealed extensive localization within neurons. C1q was found near synapses, within terminals and in spines, but was also observed in dendrites, often near abnormal mitochondria. Similar analyses in aging rat mPFC corroborated the findings in rhesus macaques. C1q protein increasingly associated with PSD95 with age in macaque, consistent with its synaptic localization as evidenced by EM.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings reveal novel, intra-neuronal distribution patterns for C1q in the aging primate cortex, including evidence of C1q in dendrites. They suggest that age-related changes in the dlPFC may increase C1q expression and synaptic tagging for glial phagocytosis, a possible mechanism for age-related degeneration.

Anti-C1q Antibodies as Occurring in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Could Be Induced by an Epstein-Barr Virus-Derived Antigenic Site

Previous infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is believed to trigger autoimmunity and to drive autoantibody generation as occurring in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Complement C1q and autoantibodies targeting it (anti-C1q) are also considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, independently of the impact of environmental insults. Still, the circumstances under which these autoantibodies arise remain elusive. By studying a major antigenic site of C1q targeted by anti-C1q (A08), we aimed to determine environmental factors and possible mechanisms leading to the development of anti-C1q. First, we determined antigenic residues of A08 that were critical for the binding of anti-C1q; importantly, we found the binding to depend on amino-acid-identity. Anti-C1q of SLE patients targeting these critical antigenic residues specifically cross-reacted with the EBV-related EBNA-1 (Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 1)-derived peptide EBNA348. In a cohort of 180 SLE patients we confirmed that patients that were seropositive for EBV and recognized the EBNA348 peptide had increased levels of anti-A08 and anti-C1q, respectively. The correlation of anti-EBNA348 with anti-A08 levels was stronger in SLE patients than in matched healthy controls. Finally, EBNA348 peptide-immunization of C1q^−/− mice induced the generation of cross-reactive antibodies which recognized both the A08 epitope of C1q and intact C1q. These findings suggest that anti-C1q in SLE patients could be induced by an EBV-derived epitope through molecular mimicry, thereby further supporting the pathogenic role of EBV in the development of SLE. Considering the role of C1q and anti-C1q, modifying the anti-EBV response might be a promising strategy to improve the course of the disease.

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: Pathophysiological mechanisms related to innate immune system

Rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus are two highly prevalent autoimmune diseases that generate disability and low quality of life. The innate immune system, a long-forgotten issue in autoimmune diseases, is becoming increasingly important and represents a new focus for the treatment of these entities. This review highlights the role that innate immune system plays in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. The role of the innate immune system in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus pathophysiology is not only important in early stages but is essential to maintain the immune response and to allow disease progression. In rheumatoid arthritis, genetic and environmental factors are involved in the initial stimulation of the innate immune response in which macrophages are the main participants, as well as fibroblast-like synoviocytes. In systemic lupus erythematosus, all the cells contribute to the inflammatory response, but the complement system is the major effector of the inflammatory process. Detecting alterations in the normal function of these cells, besides its contribution to the understanding of the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, could help to establish new treatment strategies for these diseases.

Utilization of Biomarkers in Lupus Nephritis

Lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in up to 60% of SLE patients, and is a leading cause of disability and death. Current treatment of LN consists of a combination of high dose corticosteroids that non-specifically decrease inflammation and cytotoxic medications that reduce auto-antibody production. That combination of therapy is associated with significant side effects while remission rates remain inadequate. Since the introduction of biologics into the pharmacological armamentarium, there has been hope for less toxic and more effective therapies for LN. Unfortunately, after multiple clinical trials, no biologic has improved efficacy over standard of care therapies for LN. This is likely, in part, due to disease heterogeneity. The utilization of biomarkers in LN may provide a way to stratify patients and guide therapeutic options. In this review, we summarize traditional and novel LN biomarkers and discuss how they may be used to diagnose, stratify, and guide therapy in patients with LN, bringing precision medicine to the forefront of LN therapy.

The Diagnostic and Clinical Utility of Autoantibodies in Systemic Vasculitis

Considerable progress has been made in understanding the role of autoantibodies in systemic vasculitides (SV), and consequently testing for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA), anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies (anti-GBM), and anti-C1q antibodies is helpful and necessary in the diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of small-vessel vasculitis. ANCA-directed proteinase 3 (PR3-) or myeloperoxidase (MPO-) are sensitive and specific serologic markers for ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV), anti-GBM antibodies are highly specific for the patients with anti-GBM antibody disease (formerly Goodpasture’s syndrome), and autoantibodies to C1q are characteristic of hypocomlementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS; anti-C1q vasculitis). The results of a current EUVAS study have led to changes in the established strategy for the ANCA testing in small-vessel vasculitis. The revised 2017 international consensus recommendations for ANCA detection support the primary use PR3- and MPO-ANCA immunoassays without the categorical need for additional indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). Interestingly, the presence of PR3- and MPO-ANCA have led to the differentiation of distinct disease phenotype of AAV: PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis (PR3-AAV), MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis (MPO-AAV), and ANCA-negative vasculitis. Further studies on the role of these autoantibodies are required to better categorize and manage appropriately the patients with small-vessel vasculitis and to develop more targeted therapy.

Membrane assembly of aquaporin-4 autoantibodies regulates classical complement activation in neuromyelitis optica

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an autoimmune CNS disorder mediated by pathogenic aquaporin-4 (AQP4) water channel autoantibodies (AQP4-IgG). Although AQP4-IgG-driven complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) is critical for the formation of NMO lesions, the molecular mechanisms governing optimal classical pathway activation are unknown. We investigated the molecular determinants driving CDC in NMO using recombinant AQP4-specific autoantibodies (AQP4 rAbs) derived from affected patients. We identified a group of AQP4 rAbs targeting a distinct extracellular loop C epitope that demonstrated enhanced CDC on target cells. Targeted mutations of AQP4 rAb Fc domains that enhance or diminish C1q binding or antibody Fc-Fc interactions showed that optimal CDC was driven by the assembly of multimeric rAb platforms that increase multivalent C1q binding and facilitate C1q activation. A peptide that blocks antibody Fc-Fc interaction inhibited CDC induced by AQP4 rAbs and polyclonal NMO patient sera. Super-resolution microscopy revealed that AQP4 rAbs with enhanced CDC preferentially formed organized clusters on supramolecular AQP4 orthogonal arrays, linking epitope-dependent multimeric assembly with enhanced C1q binding and activation. The resulting model of AQP4-IgG CDC provides a framework for understanding classical complement activation in human autoantibody-mediated disorders and identifies a potential new therapeutic avenue for treating NMO.

Complement in the Pathophysiology of the Antiphospholipid Syndrome

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL). Complement is a system of enzymes and regulatory proteins of the innate immune system that plays a key role in the inflammatory response to pathogenic stimuli. The complement and coagulation pathways are closely linked, and expanding data indicate that complement may be activated in patients with aPL and function as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of aPL-associated clinical events. Complement activation by aPL generates C5a, which induces neutrophil tissue factor-dependent procoagulant activity. Beta-2-glycoprotein I, the primary antigen for pathogenic aPL, has complement regulatory effects in vitro. Moreover, aPL induce fetal loss in wild-type mice but not in mice deficient in specific complement components (C3, C5). Antiphospholipid antibodies also induce thrombosis in wild type mice and this effect is attenuated in C3 or C6 deficient mice, or in the presence of a C5 inhibitor. Increased levels of complement activation products have been demonstrated in sera of patients with aPL, though the association with clinical events remains unclear. Eculizumab, a terminal complement inhibitor, has successfully been used to treat catastrophic APS and prevent APS-related thrombotic microangiopathy in the setting of renal transplant. However, the mechanisms of complement activation in APS, its role in the pathogenesis of aPL related complications in humans, and the potential of complement inhibition as a therapeutic target in APS require further study.

Detection of Autoantibodies to Complement Components by Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Technology

The innate immune complement system is a powerful defense cascade against pathogens, but can induce host tissue damage when overactivated. In pathological conditions, mainly but not restricted to renal diseases, such as lupus nephritis, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, and C3 glomerulopathies, complement is overactivated or dysregulated by autoantibodies directed against its components and regulators. Among the key autoantibody targets are the initiator of the classical complement pathway C1q, the alternative pathway regulator Factor H, the components of the alternative pathway C3 convertase complex C3 and Factor B and the convertase complex itself. This methodological article describes our experience with a method for detection of anti-complement autoantibodies in real time using surface plasmon resonance-based technology. It allows label-free evaluation of the binding efficacy and stability of the formed antigen-antibody complexes.

Predominant but silent C1q deposits in mesangium on transplanted kidneys - long-term observational study

Background

C1q nephropathy (C1qN) was first described as glomerular disease characterized by predominant meangial C1q deposits in patients with proteinuria and no evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus. Several studies, however, revealed the clinical heterogeneity of C1qN, showing some cases with normal urinalysis. To confirm the existence of cases with predominant mesangial C1q deposits and negative or mild proteinuria and/or hematuria, we investigated renal graft biopsy specimens showing negative to mild proteinuria (less than or equal to 1+ by dip stick test) and/or hematuria.

Methods

Eligible participants were kidney transplant cases who corresponded to the criteria for C1qN and were followed more than 10 years. Their medical records were reviewed to determine the age at detection of predominant mesangial C1q deposits, gender, original renal disease and reason for renal graft biopsy, blood pressure, degree of proteinuria and hematuria, and serum creatinine levels.

Results

From 414 cases in adults and children, five pediatric patients (the male to female ratio, 1:1.5) were eligible. At the time when predominant mesangial C1q deposits were detected, 2 cases presented with mild proteinuria without hematuria, but the other 3 cases showed normal urinalysis. Light microscopy revealed minor glomerular abnormality in all the cases. Immunofluorescent study showed predominant mesangial C1q deposits with IgG, IgM and C3 in all cases. All selected specimens presented electron dense-depos in the mesangium. Ten years later from the detection, 2 cases continued to be normal urinalysis and 3 cases had mild proteinuria without hematuria. During this follow-up period, no cases presented with persistent proteinuria and/or hematuria greater than or equal to 2+ by dip stick test. And no cases developed systemic lupus erythematosus. Follow-up renal graft biopsies were performed once in 2 cases 8 years later from the detection. They showed minor glomerular abnormalities. C1q deposit disappeared in one case. In another case, immunofluorescent study was not examined.

Conclusions

This long-term observational study on transplanted kidneys confirms the existence of cases with predominant but silent C1q deposits in the mesangium who have negative or mild proteinuria.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-018-0874-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Anti-C1q in systemic lupus erythematosus

C1q is the first component of the classical complement pathway. Both clinically validated in-house ELISA assays as well as commercial ELISA kits are used for detection of anti-C1q antibodies. Anti-C1q autoantibodies can be detected in a wide range of autoimmune diseases and are highly sensitive for hypocomplementemic uticarial vasculitis. In SLE, anti-C1q are strongly associated with proliferative lupus nephritis, and their absence carries a negative predictive value for development of lupus nephritis of close to 100%. Anti-C1q in combination with anti-dsDNA and low complement has the strongest serological association with renal involvement. The anti-C1q titers correlate with global disease activity scores in patients with renal involvement, and higher titers seem to precede renal flares. After the successful treatment of a renal flare, anti-C1q has the tendency to decrease or even become undetectable. The main obstacle to the inclusion of anti-C1q in the classification criteria and clinical management of SLE is the lack of standardized laboratory assays.

Novel biomarkers for the assessment of paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis

The discovery of serum biomarkers specific for paediatric lupus nephritis (pLN) will facilitate the non-invasive diagnosis, follow-up and more appropriate use of treatment. The aim of this study was to explore the role of serum high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, antibodies against nucleosomes (anti-NCS), complement factor C1q (anti-C1q) and glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) in pLN. Serum samples of 42 patients with paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) (22 with pLN and 20 without renal involvement), 15 patients with other autoimmune nephritis (AN) and 26 healthy controls (HCs) were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The activity of both pSLE and pLN was assessed by the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) tool. The levels of all four biomarkers were significantly higher in pLN compared to AN and to HCs. The anti-NCS, anti-GBM and HMGB1 serum levels were significantly higher in pLN than in pSLE without renal involvement. The anti-C1q and the HMGB1 serum levels were correlated positively with pSLE activity. The HMGB1 serum levels were also correlated positively with pLN activity. These findings suggest that serum anti-NCS, anti-GBM and HMGB1 may serve as biomarkers specific for the presence of nephritis in pSLE. HMGB1 emerged as a useful biomarker for the assessment of pLN and pSLE activity, whereas anti-C1q only of pSLE activity.

The contribution of the programmed cell death machinery in innate immune cells to lupus nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multi-factorial autoimmune disease initiated by genetic and environmental factors, which in combination trigger disease onset in susceptible individuals. Damage to the kidney as a consequence of lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most prevalent and severe outcomes, as LN affects up to 60% of SLE patients and accounts for much of SLE-associated morbidity and mortality. As remarkable strides have been made in unlocking new inflammatory mechanisms associated with signaling molecules of programmed cell death pathways, this review explores the available evidence implicating the action of these pathways specifically within dendritic cells and macrophages in the control of kidney disease. Although advancements into the underlying mechanisms responsible for inducing cell death inflammatory pathways have been made, there still exist areas of unmet need. By understanding the molecular mechanisms by which dendritic cells and macrophages contribute to LN pathogenesis, we can improve their viability as potential therapeutic targets to promote remission.

Relationship of Circulating Anti-C3b and Anti-C1q IgG to Lupus Nephritis and Its Flare

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Autoantibodies to complement C1q (anti-C1q) are associated with the diagnosis of lupus nephritis. In this study, we compare anti-C1q IgG with another complement autoantibody, anti-C3b IgG, as a biomarker of lupus nephritis and lupus nephritis flare.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Our investigation involved the Ohio SLE Study, a prospective observational cohort of patients with recurrently active lupus who were followed bimonthly. Serum anti-C1q and anti-C3b IgG levels were assessed cross-sectionally by ELISA in 40 normal controls and 114 patients in the Ohio SLE Study (41 nonrenal and 73 lupus nephritis) at study entry, and longitudinally in a subset of patients in the Ohio SLE Study with anti-C1q-positive lupus nephritis in samples collected every 2 months for 8 months leading up to lupus nephritis flare (n=16 patients).

RESULTS

In the cross-sectional analysis, compared with anti-C1q IgG, anti-C3b IgG was less sensitive (36% versus 63%) but more specific (98% versus 71%) for lupus nephritis. Only anti-C3b IgG was associated with patients with lupus nephritis who experienced at least one lupus nephritis flare during the Ohio SLE Study period (P<0.01). In the longitudinal analysis, circulating levels of anti-C1q IgG increased at the time of lupus nephritis flare only in patients who were anti-C3b positive (P=0.02), with significant increases occurring from 6 (38% increase) and 4 months (41% increase) before flare. Anti-C3b IgG levels also trended up at lupus nephritis flare, although the change did not reach statistical significance (P=0.07). Neither autoantibody increased 2 months before flare.

CONCLUSIONS

Although not as prevalent as anti-C1q IgG, anti-C3b IgG showed nearly complete specificity for lupus nephritis. The presence of anti-C3b IgG identified patients with lupus nephritis who were prone to flare and in whom serial measurements of markers associated with complement, such as anti-C1q IgG, may be useful to monitor lupus nephritis activity.

What is damaging the kidney in lupus nephritis?

Despite marked improvements in the survival of patients with severe lupus nephritis over the past 50 years, the rate of complete clinical remission after immune suppression therapy is <50% and renal impairment still occurs in 40% of affected patients. An appreciation of the factors that lead to the development of chronic kidney disease following acute or subacute renal injury in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is beginning to emerge. Processes that contribute to end-stage renal injury include continuing inflammation, activation of intrinsic renal cells, cell stress and hypoxia, metabolic abnormalities, aberrant tissue repair and tissue fibrosis. A deeper understanding of these processes is leading to the development of novel or adjunctive therapies that could protect the kidney from the secondary non-immune consequences of acute injury. Approaches based on a molecular-proteomic-lipidomic classification of disease should yield new information about the functional basis of disease heterogeneity so that the most effective and least toxic treatment regimens can be formulated for individual patients.

C1q rs292001 polymorphism and C1q antibodies in juvenile lupus and their relation to lupus nephritis

C1q deficiency is related strongly to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but very few and inconsistent studies explored the single nucleotide polymorphisms of the C1q gene in relation to juvenile SLE (jSLE) and lupus nephritis (LN). The objective of this study was to analyse whether C1q rs 292001 polymorphism is associated with SLE and disease phenotype, especially nephritis, and to investigate the relation between this polymorphism and clinical data, treatment outcome, serum level of C1q protein and antibodies. Typing of C1q rs292001 polymorphism using restriction fragment length polymorphism and measuring serum levels of C1q protein and antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were performed for 130 children with SLE and 208 healthy controls. The A allele of C1q rs292001 was associated with jSLE and LN (P = 0·005 and 0·013, respectively) and the AA genotype was associated with jSLE (P = 0·036). Low serum levels of C1q protein were found in jSLE and LN (P < 0·001 and 0·009, respectively), and these levels were increased after treatment in patients with LN (P = 0·009) and active renal disease (P = 0·027). Higher titres of C1q antibodies were found in patients with LN (P = 0·015) and correlated negatively with C1q protein level (P < 0·001) and patient age (P = 0·04). The A allele and AA genotype of C1q rs292001 can be considered a susceptibility risk factor and the GG genotype could be considered protective for jSLE and LN in the studied cohort of Egyptian children. Decreased serum levels of C1q protein and increased titres of C1q antibodies may be involved in the pathogenesis of jSLE, especially LN.

CD47 deficiency ameliorates autoimmune nephritis in Fas(lpr) mice by suppressing IgG autoantibody production

CD47, a self-recognition marker, plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. To explore the potential role of CD47 in activation of autoreactive T and B cells and the production of autoantibodies in autoimmune disease, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we have generated CD47 knockout Fas(lpr) (CD47(-/-) -Fas(lpr) ) mice and examined histopathological changes in the kidneys, cumulative survival rates, proteinuria, extent of splenomegaly and autoantibodies, serum chemistry and immunological parameters. In comparison with Fas(lpr) mice, CD47(-/-) -Fas(lpr) mice exhibit a prolonged lifespan and delayed autoimmune nephritis, including glomerular cell proliferation, basement membrane thickening, acute tubular atrophy and vacuolization. CD47(-/-) -Fas(lpr) mice have lower levels of proteinuria, associated with reduced deposition of complement C3 and C1q, and IgG but not IgM in the glomeruli, compared to age-matched Fas(lpr) mice. Serum levels of antinuclear antibodies and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies are significantly lower in CD47(-/-) -Fas(lpr) than in Fas(lpr) mice. CD47(-/-) -Fas(lpr) mice also display less pronounced splenomegaly than Fas(lpr) mice. The mechanistic studies further suggest that CD47 deficiency impairs the antigenic challenge-induced production of IgG but not IgM, and that this effect is associated with reduction of T follicular cells and impairment of germinal centre development in lymphoid tissues. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that CD47 deficiency ameliorates lupus nephritis in Fas(lpr) mice via suppression of IgG autoantibody production.

Emerging and Novel Functions of Complement Protein C1q

Complement protein C1q, the recognition molecule of the classical pathway, performs a diverse range of complement and non-complement functions. It can bind various ligands derived from self, non-self, and altered self and modulate the functions of immune and non-immune cells including dendritic cells and microglia. C1q involvement in the clearance of apoptotic cells and subsequent B cell tolerance is more established now. Recent evidence appears to suggest that C1q plays an important role in pregnancy where its deficiency and dysregulation can have adverse effects, leading to preeclampsia, missed abortion, miscarriage or spontaneous loss, and various infections. C1q is also produced locally in the central nervous system, and has a protective role against pathogens and possible inflammatory functions while interacting with aggregated proteins leading to neurodegenerative diseases. C1q role in synaptic pruning, and thus CNS development, its anti-cancer effects as an immune surveillance molecule, and possibly in aging are currently areas of extensive research.

Complement System Part II: Role in Immunity

The complement system has been considered for a long time as a simple lytic cascade, aimed to kill bacteria infecting the host organism. Nowadays, this vision has changed and it is well accepted that complement is a complex innate immune surveillance system, playing a key role in host homeostasis, inflammation, and in the defense against pathogens. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of the role of complement in physiology and pathology. It starts with a description of complement contribution to the normal physiology (homeostasis) of a healthy organism, including the silent clearance of apoptotic cells and maintenance of cell survival. In pathology, complement can be a friend or a foe. It acts as a friend in the defense against pathogens, by inducing opsonization and a direct killing by C5b–9 membrane attack complex and by triggering inflammatory responses with the anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a. Opsonization plays also a major role in the mounting of an adaptive immune response, involving antigen presenting cells, T-, and B-lymphocytes. Nevertheless, it can be also an enemy, when pathogens hijack complement regulators to protect themselves from the immune system. Inadequate complement activation becomes a disease cause, as in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, C3 glomerulopathies, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Age-related macular degeneration and cancer will be described as examples showing that complement contributes to a large variety of conditions, far exceeding the classical examples of diseases associated with complement deficiencies. Finally, we discuss complement as a therapeutic target.

Early systemic microvascular damage in pigs with atherogenic diabetes mellitus coincides with renal angiopoietin dysbalance

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with a range of microvascular complications including diabetic nephropathy (DN). Microvascular abnormalities in the kidneys are common histopathologic findings in DN, which represent one manifestation of ongoing systemic microvascular damage. Recently, sidestream dark-field (SDF) imaging has emerged as a noninvasive tool that enables one to visualize the microcirculation. In this study, we investigated whether changes in the systemic microvasculature induced by DM and an atherogenic diet correlated spatiotemporally with renal damage.

Methods

Atherosclerotic lesion development was triggered in streptozotocin-induced DM pigs (140 mg/kg body weight) by administering an atherogenic diet for approximately 11 months. Fifteen months following induction of DM, microvascular morphology was visualized in control pigs (n = 7), non-diabetic pigs fed an atherogenic diet (ATH, n = 5), and DM pigs fed an atherogenic diet (DM+ATH, n = 5) using SDF imaging of oral mucosal tissue. Subsequently, kidneys were harvested from anethesized pigs and the expression levels of well-established markers for microvascular integrity, such as Angiopoietin-1 (Angpt1) and Angiopoietin-2 (Angpt2) were determined immunohistochemically, while endothelial cell (EC) abundance was determined by immunostaining for von Willebrand factor (vWF).

Results

Our study revealed an increase in the capillary tortuosity index in DM+ATH pigs (2.31±0.17) as compared to the control groups (Controls 0.89±0.08 and ATH 1.55±0.11; p<0.05). Kidney biopsies showed marked glomerular lesions consisting of mesangial expansion and podocyte lesions. Furthermore, we observed a disturbed Angpt2/ Angpt1balance in the cortex of the kidney, as evidenced by increased expression of Angpt2 in DM+ATH pigs as compared to Control pigs (p<0.05).

Conclusion

In the setting of DM, atherogenesis leads to the augmentation of mucosal capillary tortuosity, indicative of systemic microvascular damage. Concomitantly, a dysbalance in renal angiopoietins was correlated with the development of diabetic nephropathy. As such, our studies strongly suggest that defects in the systemic microvasculature mirror the accumulation of microvascular damage in the kidney.

Update on crescentic glomerulonephritis

The recent years have seen a number of major progresses in the field of extracapillary glomerulonephritis. This entity is the final damage caused by unrelated immunological disorders such as immune complexes glomerular deposits or microvascular injury caused by proinflammatory cytokines, neutrophil extracellular traps (NET), and cell adhesion molecules in the context of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). This review provides a summary of recent advances in the understanding of crescentic glomerulonephritis, focusing on interplays of local immune cells and on local mediators participating to crescent formation especially in anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) antibody disease. The recent advances about AAV and lupus nephritis are covered by other chapters of this issue. Nevertheless, these considerations may apply to the general case of crescentic glomerulonephritis of all causes.

The kidney biopsy in lupus nephritis: is it still relevant?

The kidney biopsy is the standard of care for diagnosis of lupus nephritis and remains necessary to ensure accurate diagnosis and guide treatment. Repeat biopsy should be considered when therapy modifications are necessary, as in cases with incomplete or no response, or when stopping therapy for those in remission. There are several promising biomarkers of kidney disorders; however, these markers need to be validated in a prospective clinical trial before being applied clinically. Molecular analysis may provide the information presently lacking from current evaluation of kidney disorders and may better inform on prognosis and treatment considerations.

The alternative pathway of complement activation may be involved in the renal damage of human anti-glomerular basement membrane disease

Linear deposition of IgG and complement 3 (C3) along glomerular basement membrane (GBM) is generally revealed in the kidneys of human anti-GBM disease. Our recent studies demonstrated the pathogenic role of complement activation in renal damage of this disease. However, the pathways of complement activation were still paradoxical. In this study, renal biopsy tissues from 10 patients with anti-GBM disease were used to investigate the pathways of complement activation by detecting the deposition of various complement components, including C1q, factor B, factor P (properdin), mannose-binding lectin (MBL), C3d, C4d and C5b-9, using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. We found that C1q, factor B, properdin, C3d, C4d and C5b-9 were detected in all the glomeruli of our patients, along GBM with a linear and/or granular staining pattern. Furthermore, C1q, factor B and properdin co-localized well with C5b-9. The properdin also co-localized well with C3d. However, the deposition of MBL was diffusive in mesangium, GBM, Bowman's capsule and within crescents and was not co-localized with C5b-9 but partially co-localized with C4d. The intensity of factor B deposition (3.3 vs. 1.2, P<0.001) and C5b-9 deposition (3.2 vs. 1.6, P<0.001) was significantly stronger in the glomeruli with crescent formation, compared with the glomeruli without crescents. The complement system is overall activated via both the alternative pathway and classical pathway in the kidneys of human anti-GBM disease. The alternative pathway might play an important role in complement activation induced renal damage.

The Pathogenesis of Lupus Nephritis

Lupus nephritis is a serious potential feature of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Though SLE typically cycles through periods of flares and remission, patients often eventually succumb to end-stage kidney or cardiovascular damage. This review of the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis examines the role of the complement cascade; the significance of autoantibodies, the breaking of tolerance, and the implications of altered apoptosis in breaking tolerance; and the contributions of adaptive immunity and cross-talk with the innate immune system in driving renal damage. Delineation of basic mechanisms underlying the development of acute and chronic renal damage in lupus nephritis can result in the continued development of more specific and effective treatments.

Glomerular C1q deposition and serum anti-C1q antibodies in anti-glomerular basement membrane disease

Background

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease is a well-known antibody-induced autoimmune disease. A few patients have glomerular C1q deposition, but it is usually absent on renal histopathology. The role of C1q deposition in kidney injury is unclear. Recently, anti-C1q antibodies are demonstrated to be pathogenic in the target organ damage of many autoimmune diseases, by facilitating C1q deposition and enhancing complement activation via classical pathway. In the current study, we investigated the associations between anti-C1q antibodies in sera and C1q deposition in kidney of patients with anti-GBM disease.

Results

It was shown that the severity of kidney injury was comparable between patients with and without C1q deposition, including the prevalence of oliguria/auria, the median percentage of crescents in glomeruli and the mean concentration of serum creatinine. Serum anti-C1q antibodies were detected in 15/25 (60%) patients with a low titer. The prevalence of C1q deposition in kidney was comparable between patients with and without serum anti-C1q antibodies (26.7% vs. 30.0%, p > 0.05). No association was found between anti-C1q antibodies and the severity of kidney injury.

Conclusions

The classical pathway of complement may not play a pathogenic role in the kidney injury of human anti-GBM disease. Anti-C1q antibodies could be detected in more than half of patients, which need further investigations.

Anti-DNA antibodies cross-react with C1q

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder that involves multiple organ systems and typically presents as a chronic inflammatory disease. Antibodies to double-stranded (ds) DNA are present in approximately 70% of patients and form nucleic acid containing immune complexes which activate dendritic cells through engagement of toll-like receptors, leading to a pro-inflammatory, pro-immunogenic milieu. In addition, anti-dsDNA antibodies deposit in kidneys to initiate glomerulonephritis. Antibodies to C1q have also been implicated in lupus nephritis and are found in 30-50% of patients. C1q is a known suppressor of immune activation and C1q deficiency is the strongest risk factor for SLE. We previously identified a subset of anti-DNA antibodies that binds the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor. We now show that both mouse and human anti-DNA antibodies with this specificity bind C1q. These antibodies bind to Clq in glomeruli and exhibit decreased glomerular deposition in the absence of C1q. We propose that this subset of anti-DNA antibodies participates in lupus pathogenesis through direct targeting of C1q on glomeruli and also through removal of soluble C1q thereby limiting the ability of C1q to mediate immune homeostasis.

Anti-C1q autoantibodies, novel tests, and clinical consequences

Although anti-C1q autoantibodies have been described more than four decades ago a constant stream of papers describing clinical associations or functional consequences highlights that anti-C1q antibodies are still hot and happening. By far the largest set of studies focus on anti-C1q antibodies is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In SLE anti-C1q antibodies associate with involvement of lupus nephritis in such a way that in the absence of anti-C1q antibodies it is unlikely that a flare in nephritis will occur. Anti-C1q antibodies occur in several autoimmune conditions but also in healthy individuals. Although considerable progress has been made in the understanding of how anti-C1q antibodies may contribute to tissue injury there is still a lot to learn about the processes involved in the breaking of tolerance to this protein. There has been considerable improvement in the assays employed to test for the presence of anti-C1q antibodies. Hopefully with these new and standardized assays at hand larger clinical association studies will be conducted with independent replication. Such large-scale studies will reveal the true value of clinical testing for anti-C1q autoantibodies in several clinical conditions.

Serum levels and renal deposition of C1q complement component and its antibodies reflect disease activity of lupus nephritis

Background

Lupus nephritis is considered to be a principal cause of morbidity and mortality in SLE. Few studies focus on the association between anti-C1q antibodies in circulation and renal C1q deposition in human lupus nephritis. In this study, we detected the serum levels of C1q, presence of anti-C1q antibodies in circulation, renal C1q deposition and further analyzed their associations with clinical and pathological activity in a large cohort of Chinese lupus nephritis patients.

Methods

Sera and renal biopsies from 218 consecutive patients with lupus nephritis with long-term follow up data were studied. Sera were tested for levels of C1q and anti-C1q autoantibodies. Associations of levels of C1q, anti-C1q autoantibodies with renal deposition of C1q, clinical and histopathological data and renal outcome were further investigated.

Results

The levels of serum C1q were significantly lower in lupus nephritis than that in normal controls [33.81 ± 20.36 v.s. 61.97 ± 10.50 μg/ml (P < 0.001)]. The prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies, ratios of glomerular and vascular deposition of C1q in patients with lupus nephritis were 42.7% (93/218), 71.6% (156/218) and 86.2% (188/218), respectively. The serum C1q levels and anti-C1q antibodies were associated with SLEDAI scores (P < 0.001, P = 0.012, respectively), renal total activity indices scores (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). Granular positive staining of C1q and IgG by immunofluorescence was co-localized almost completely along the glomerular capillary wall and mesangial areas. Patients with anti-C1q antibodies presented with significantly lower serum C1q levels than those without it (23.82 [0.60, 69.62] μg/ml v.s. 37.36 [0.64, 82.83] μg/ml, P < 0.001). The presence of anti-C1q antibodies was associated with the presence of glomerular C1q deposition (P < 0.001), but not with the presence of renal vascular C1q deposition (P = 0.203).

Conclusion

Anti-C1q autoantibodies were closely associated with serum levels of C1q and glomerular deposition of C1q. Kidney is at least one of the target organs of anti-C1q autoantibodies.

Positive C1q staining associated with poor renal outcome in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND

Pathogenesis and clinical prognosis of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) has not yet been established.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 41 patients with MPGN (type I and III) and examined the renal survival. In addition, factors contributing to survival time were analyzed.

RESULTS

Fourteen patients (34 %) were classified into the renal death group. Patients with nephrotic syndrome and positive C1q staining of glomerular deposits showed a particularly poor prognosis. Significantly higher frequency of nephrotic syndrome and higher urinary protein excretion were observed in the renal death group (p = 0.0002, p = 0.0002) than in the renal survival group. The intensity of C1q staining was positively correlated with the severity of the proteinuria (p = 0.004). Factors that influenced the survival time were positive C1q staining of glomerular deposits (p = 0.003), presence of nephrotic syndrome (p = 0.004), serum albumin (p = 0.02), and proteinuria (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

C1q staining in glomerular deposits and nephrotic syndrome were important factors influencing the prognosis and outcome in MPGN patients. C1q deposition may play a key role in the pathogenesis of MPGN, as evidenced by numerous observations, such as induction of proteinuria.

Lupus nephritis: an overview of recent findings

Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) since it is the major predictor of poor prognosis. In susceptible individuals suffering of SLE, in situ formation and deposit of immune complexes (ICs) from apoptotic bodies occur in the kidneys as a result of an amplified epitope immunological response. IC glomerular deposits generate release of proinflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules causing inflammation. This leads to monocytes and polymorphonuclear cells chemotaxis. Subsequent release of proteases generates endothelial injury and mesangial proliferation. Presence of ICs promotes adaptive immune response and causes dendritic cells to release type I interferon. This induces maturation and activation of infiltrating T cells, and amplification of Th2, Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes. Each of them, amplify B cells and activates macrophages to release more proinflammatory molecules, generating effector cells that cannot be modulated promoting kidney epithelial proliferation and fibrosis. Herein immunopathological findings of LN are reviewed.

Mechanisms of tissue injury in lupus nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody production and immune complex formation/deposition in target organs such as the kidney. Resultant local inflammation then leads to organ damage. Nephritis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lupus, occurs in approximately 50% of lupus patients. In the present review, we provide an overview of the current research and knowledge concerning mechanisms of renal injury in both lupus-prone mouse models and human lupus patients.

Clearing the complexity: immune complexes and their treatment in lupus nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a classic antibody-mediated systemic autoimmune disease characterised by the development of autoantibodies to ubiquitous self-antigens (such as antinuclear antibodies and antidouble-stranded DNA antibodies) and widespread deposition of immune complexes in affected tissues. Deposition of immune complexes in the kidney results in glomerular damage and occurs in all forms of lupus nephritis. The development of nephritis carries a poor prognosis and high risk of developing end-stage renal failure despite recent therapeutic advances. Here we review the role of DNA-anti-DNA immune complexes in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis and possible new treatment strategies aimed at their control.

Molecular mechanisms of chronic kidney transplant rejection via large-scale proteogenomic analysis of tissue biopsies

The most common cause of kidney transplant failure is the poorly characterized histopathologic entity interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). There are no known unifying mechanisms, no effective therapy, and no proven preventive strategies. Possible mechanisms include chronic immune rejection, inflammation, drug toxicity, and chronic kidney injury from secondary factors. To gain further mechanistic insight, we conducted a large-scale proteogenomic study of kidney transplant biopsies with IFTA of varying severity. We acquired proteomic data using tandem mass spectrometry with subsequent quantification, analysis of differential protein expression, validation, and functional annotations to known molecular networks. We performed genome-wide expression profiling in parallel. More than 1400 proteins with unique expression profiles traced the progression from normal transplant biopsies to biopsies with mild to moderate and severe disease. Multiple sets of proteins were mapped to different functional pathways, many increasing with histologic severity, including immune responses, inflammatory cell activation, and apoptosis consistent with the chronic rejection hypothesis. Two examples include the extensive population of the alternative rather than the classical complement pathway, previously not appreciated for IFTA, and a comprehensive control network for the actin cytoskeleton and cell signaling of the acute-phase response. In summary, this proteomic effort using kidney tissue contributes mechanistic insight into several biologic processes associated with IFTA.

C1q and anti-C1q antibody levels are correlated with disease severity in Chinese pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was to measure the level of serum complement lq(Clq) and anti-C1q antibodies (ClqAb) in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (PSLE), and then analyze the correlation between the levels of serum Clq and ClqAb with disease activity and kidney damage. We investigated 90 PSLE patients, including 43 patients in active stage and 47 patients in remission. Our results showed that the level of serum Clq of PSLE patients was significantly lower than the level of healthy children and children with other rheumatic diseases. In contrast, the level of ClqAb of PSLE patients was significantly higher than the other groups. The level of serum Clq was negatively correlated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease active index (SLEDAI) and the level of ClqAb was positively correlated with SLEDAI and kidney damage. The sensitivity of using ClqAb levels to diagnose PSLE was 95.6% and the specificity was 97.5%. 93.0% SLE patients who had high C1qAb levels also showed kidney damage. Therefore, the levels of C1q and C1qAb in serum reflect the disease severity of SLE. Decreased Clq and increased C1qAb is closely correlated with lupus nephritis (LN) in children and may have diagnosis values for child LN.

Anti-C1q antibodies: association with nephritis and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Anti-C1q antibodies have been described in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as in other connective tissue diseases. They have been considered as a marker for disease activity and presence of nephritis.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-C1q antibodies in Brazilian lupus patients as well as analyze their association with different clinical and serologic parameters.

METHODS

Sera from 81 SLE patients, based on the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, were collected from a lupus referral outpatient clinic in Salvador, Brazil. Antibodies to C1q were detected by an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kit and antibodies to other cellular antigens identified by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cell substrate (ANA), or Crithidia luciliae (dsDNA), and to nucleosome by ELISA. A cutoff of 20 U was established for anti-C1q and anti nucleosome assays.

RESULTS

Anti-C1q antibodies were detected in 39.5% (32/81) of SLE sera. The presence of anti-C1q antibodies was associated with proteinuria (P=0.028) but not with other laboratory or clinical features, such as anti nucleosome or anti-dsDNA antibodies, hematuria, urinary casts or renal failure, leukopenia, pericarditis, pleuritis, malar rash, seizures, and psychosis. There was a positive correlation between the titers of anti-C1q antibodies and the systemic lupuis erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score (r=0.370; P=0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study in Brazilian SLE patients confirms previous findings of the association of anti-C1q antibodies with nephritis and disease activity.