T cell cytokine polarity as a determinant of immunoglobulin A (IgA) glycosylation and the severity of experimental IgA nephropathy

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) glycosylation, recognized as an important pathogenic factor in IgA nephropathy (IgAN), is apparently controlled by the polarity of T helper (Th) cytokine responses. To examine the role of cytokine polarity in IgAN, inbred mice were immunized by intraperitoneal priming with inactivated Sendai virus (SeV) emulsified in either complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) or incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA), which promote Th1- or Th2-immune response, respectively, and then boosted identically twice orally with aqueous suspensions of inactivated virus. Next, some mice were challenged intranasally with infectious SeV. Mice primed with CFA or IFA had equal reductions in nasal viral titre relative to non-immune controls, and equally increased serum levels of SeV-specific IgA antibody. Mice primed with CFA showed higher SeV-specific IgG than those with IFA. Splenocytes from mice primed with IFA produced copious amounts of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5, but little interferon-gamma and IL-2; those primed with CFA had reciprocal cytokine recall responses. Total serum IgA and especially SeV-specific IgA from mice primed with IFA showed a selective defect in sialylation and galactosylation. Although the frequency and intensity of glomerular deposits and haematuria did not differ, glomerulonephritis in mice primed with IFA and challenged with infectious virus was more severe than in those given CFA, as judged by serum creatinine level. We conclude that the polarity of T cell cytokines controls the pattern of IgA glycosylation and exerts direct or indirect effects on functional glomerular responses to immune complex deposition.

T cell cytokines determine the severity of experimental IgA nephropathy by regulating IgA glycosylation

Hyperfunction of Th2 cells and aberrant glycosylation of IgA have been proposed independently as factors in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN), the most common form of glomerulonephritis. To investigate the relationship between Th2 cytokines and IgA glycosylation in the genesis of IgAN, we induced IgAN in C3HeB and BALB/c mice by oral immunization and intranasal challenge with Sendai virus. Although both strains of mice developed microhaematuria and glomerular IgA immune deposits to similar degrees, only BALB/c mice developed significant renal insufficiency. More profound reductions of terminal galactosylation and sialylation occurred in Sendai virus-specific IgA from BALB/c versus C3HeB mice, and splenocytes from immunized BALB/c mice produced more Th2 and less Th1 cytokines compared to C3HeB mice when stimulated with antigen in vitro. Furthermore, the decreased glycosylation of IgA elicited by Th2 cytokines in vitro was blunted by the addition of IFN-gamma. We conclude that increased production of Th2 cytokines can lead to abnormalities in IgA glycosylation, which in turn promote heightened phlogistic responses to IgA immune complexes lodging in the glomerulus. We suggest that a relative or absolute increase in Th2 cytokine production in response to mucosal infection is a significant pathogenic factor in human IgAN.

Treatment of collagen induced arthritis by proteolytic enzymes: immunomodulatory and disease modifying effects

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of a novel therapy (proteases) in an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis, and to investigate the mechanisms of arthritogenesis.

METHODS

We induced progressive arthritis in male DBA/1 mice by immunization and boosting with Type II collagen; groups of mice were treated orally twice daily with either ibuprofen or proteases, or were left untreated. After 2 weeks, joints were scored for clinical, radiographic, and histologic changes. In addition, we measured serum levels of IgG anti-collagen II, the glycosylation of circulating total and anti-collagen II IgG, and cytokine production by lymphocytes isolated from lymph nodes.

RESULTS

Amelioration of joint inflammation, and accentuation of a prototypical Th2 cytokine (interleukin 5) were similar in the ibuprofen and protease treatment groups. However, protease treatment protects and preserves articular cartilage, normalizes the sialylation of IgG and anti-collagen antibody, and fully restores Th1 (interferon-gamma) synthesis, distinct from ibuprofen.

CONCLUSION

Protease therapy has antiinflammatory efficacy in the early (inflammatory) phase of collagen induced arthritis, similar to ibuprofen. The immunomodulatory effects of proteases, not seen with ibuprofen, may underlie a correction of aberrant IgG glycosylation and/or contribute to the increased capacity of protease to delay or forestall erosive and destructive arthritis or ankylosis. Similar effects may apply to spontaneous RA in humans.

Differential glycosylation of two glycoproteins synthesized by murine B cells in response to IL-4 plus IL-5

We sought to determine whether selected cytokines, known to stimulate profoundly B-cell activation and differentiation, also have as yet unrecognized effects upon the glycosylation of secreted Ig and/or membrane-associated proteins. The glycosylation of both secreted IgM and membrane-bound MHC Class-I synthesized by CH12LX cells was detected by enzyme-lectin conjugates in immunoabsorption assays. Stimulation of B cells with IL-4 plus IL-5 significantly decreases the terminal glycosylation of secreted IgM, whereas LPS has a minor effect, despite the fact that both stimuli are equipotent for IgM secretion. Neither LPS nor IL-4 plus IL-5 affect MHC Class-I expression. However, IL-4 plus IL-5 substantially increases the terminal glycosylation of MHC Class-I produced from both mIgM(+)and mIgA(+)CH12LX cells. LPS has no or a modest effect on the terminal glycosylation of MHC Class-I produced from CH12LX cells. These results suggest that Th(2)-derived cytokines differentially influence the glycosylation of secreted and membrane-associated glycoproteins of B cells. In turn, this might elucidate the basis of aberrant glycosylation reported in conditions such as IgA nephropathy, cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.

The glycosylation of IgA produced by murine B cells is altered by Th2 cytokines

We sought to determine whether selected cytokines, known to profoundly increase proliferation and/or production of Ig by B cells and their progeny, also have as yet unrecognized effects upon IgA glycosylation. For these studies, we selected CH12LX mouse B lymphoma cells, a widely used model of B cell differentiation. Glycosylation was assessed by detection with enzyme-lectin conjugates in an immunoabsorption assay and verified by profiling and sequencing of the N-linked oligosaccharides. Stimulation of B cells with IL-4 plus IL-5 significantly alters the terminal glycosylation of secreted IgA, whereas LPS has a minor effect, despite the fact that both stimuli are equipotent at inducing Ig class switching and Ig secretion. Moreover, the alteration in terminal glycosylation was more profound on IgA secreted from surface IgM+ than from surface IgA+ CH12LX cells. These results suggest that the increased production of IL-4 and IL-5 by peripheral blood lymphocytes from IgA nephropathy patients might result in the production of abnormally glycosylated IgA. In turn, this abnormally glycosylated IgA may promote deposition of IgA in glomeruli in this disease.

The glycosylation of IgA produced by murine B cells is altered by Th2 cytokines

We sought to determine whether selected cytokines, known to profoundly increase proliferation and/or production of Ig by B cells and their progeny, also have as yet unrecognized effects upon IgA glycosylation. For these studies, we selected CH12LX mouse B lymphoma cells, a widely used model of B cell differentiation. Glycosylation was assessed by detection with enzyme-lectin conjugates in an immunoabsorption assay and verified by profiling and sequencing of the N-linked oligosaccharides. Stimulation of B cells with IL-4 plus IL-5 significantly alters the terminal glycosylation of secreted IgA, whereas LPS has a minor effect, despite the fact that both stimuli are equipotent at inducing Ig class switching and Ig secretion. Moreover, the alteration in terminal glycosylation was more profound on IgA secreted from surface IgM+ than from surface IgA+ CH12LX cells. These results suggest that the increased production of IL-4 and IL-5 by peripheral blood lymphocytes from IgA nephropathy patients might result in the production of abnormally glycosylated IgA. In turn, this abnormally glycosylated IgA may promote deposition of IgA in glomeruli in this disease.

Proinflammatory cytokines regulate Fc alphaR expression by human mesangial cells in vitro

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is defined by the predominant deposition of IgA immune complexes (IC) in the glomerular mesangium. Interaction between IgA immune complexes and mesangial cells (MC) could be a linchpin for the genesis of IgAN. We studied the modulation of MC expression of IgA receptors (Fc alphaR) by selected cytokines. Binding of 125I-IgA to quiescent human MC showed 2.55 x 10(5) sites/cell with an affinity (Ka) of 3.2 x 10(7) M(-1). Addition of selected recombinant cytokines had no significant influence on Ka, but increased the number of sites/cell relative to unstimulated cells. Northern hybridization using the pHuFc alphaR cDNA probe showed time-dependent increases in mRNA expression in stimulated versus control cells. IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) had a biphasic effect on the Fc alphaR mRNA level; at 48 h, IL-6 increased steady state mRNA levels about six-fold relative to control, TNF-alpha increased mRNA four-fold, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induced Fc alphaR mRNA two-fold. By reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the Fc alphaR expressed on human MC appears highly homologous to that expressed by U937 cells. Altered Fc alphaR expression in response to cytokines may influence the pathogenesis of IgAN by affecting deposition and/or clearance of IgA-IC in the mesangium.