Abstract: SA-PO980
Potential Roles of Autoantibodies Targeting the Podocyte in the Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome
Session Information
- Glomerular Diseases: Podocyte Biology - II
November 04, 2023 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Pennsylvania Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Glomerular Diseases
- 1403 Podocyte Biology
Authors
- Leclerc, Simon, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Aoudjit, Lamine, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Takano, Tomoko, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Background
The idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is characterized by heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema. In both forms of INS, minimal change disease (MCD) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), podocytes are injured by mechanisms that are still mostly unknown. This injury causes changes in their actin cytoskeleton, leading to the effacement of their foot processes. Recent evidence suggests that autoantibodies targeting the podocyte might play a role in this process. Our objective is to establish if such autoantibodies are implicated in the pathogenesis of INS and to understand how they contribute to podocyte injury and foot process effacement.
Methods
As previously published (Hada and al., J Am Soc Nephrol. 2022;33(11):2008-2025.), INS was induced in C3H/HeN mice by immunization with recombinant Crb2, a transmembrane protein expressed both at the murine and human podocyte’s slit diaphragm. Immortalized podocytes expressing mouse Crb2 were incubated with serum from Crb2-immunized and control mice, then stained for phospho-ezrin, the phosphorylated form of ezrin, a protein that links Crb2 to the actin cytoskeleton. Sera from human INS patients in active disease and healthy controls were tested with quantitative ELISA specific for anti-Crb2 and anti-nephrin antibodies.
Results
C3H/HeN mice developed significant anti-Crb2 antibody titer and proteinuria 4 weeks after immunization. Podocytes incubated with Crb2-immunized mouse serum showed a significant increase in ezrin phosphorylation compared to podocytes incubated with control mouse serum (average staining intensity per cell of 1370 vs 68, p<0.0001). Among 67 INS patients in active disease, 22 (32%) had a positive anti-Crb2 antibody titer and 6 (9%) had a positive anti-nephrin antibody titer, while no healthy controls had a positive titer of either antibodies.
Conclusion
Mice immunized with the podocyte protein Crb2 develop an INS-like disease, and their anti-Crb2 antibodies induce phosphorylation of ezrin, which links Crb2 to the cytoskeleton. Such anti-Crb2 antibodies are also present in human INS patients in active disease, along with anti-nephrin antibodies, indicating that autoantibodies targeting podocyte proteins may contribute to the cytoskeletal changes and podocyte injury seen in INS.