Lipocalin-2 Exacerbates Lupus Nephritis by Promoting Th1 Cell Differentiation.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Lipocalin-2 (LCN2) is an indicator of the severity of lupus nephritis (LN) and plays a pivotal role in immune responses, but it is not known if its effect on LN pathogenesis derives from regulating the immune imbalance of T lymphocyte subsets.

METHODS:

The expression of LCN2 in T cells and kidneys was assessed in renal biopsies from patients with LN. We investigated the relationship between LCN2 levels and development of LN and systemic illness by injecting anti-LCN2 antibodies into MRL/lpr mice and analyzing pristane-treated LCN2-/- mice.

RESULTS:

LCN2 is highly expressed in CD4+ T cells and in renal tissues, and is associated with severe renal damage in patients with LN and in mice with experimental lupus. LCN2 promotes IFN-γ overexpression in CD4+ T cells through the IL-12/STAT4 pathway in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Both neutralization of LCN2 in MRL/lpr mice and genetic depletion of LCN2 in pristane-induced lupus mice greatly ameliorate nephritis. The frequency and number of splenic and renal Th1 cells decrease in proportion to LN disease activity. Conversely, administration of LCN2 exacerbates the disease with significantly higher renal activity scores and increased numbers of Th1 cells.

CONCLUSIONS:

LCN2 plays a crucial role in Th1 cell differentiation, and may present a potential therapeutic target for LN.

• Authors: Weiwei Chen, Wenchao Li, Zhuoya Zhang, Xiaojun Tang, Shufang Wu, Genhong Yao, Kang Li, Dandan Wang, Yuemei Xu, Ruihai Feng, Xiaoxiao Duan, Xiangshan Fan, Liwei Lu, WanJun Chen, Chaojun Li, Lingyun Sun
• Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN (J Am Soc Nephrol) Vol. 31 Issue 10 Pg. 2263-2277 (10 2020) ISSN: 1533-3450 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 32646856 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Nephrology.

Chemical References

• Lipocalin-2

Topics

• Animals
• Case-Control Studies
• Cell Differentiation
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Humans
• Lipocalin-2 (metabolism)
• Lupus Nephritis (etiology, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred MRL lpr
• Th1 Cells (metabolism, pathology)