SAT0159 Podocyte damage by autoantibodies in lupus nephritis

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 71; no. Suppl 3; pp. 525 - 526
• Main Authors: Hillmann, A., Jung, E., Wardemann, H., Pap, T., Jacobi, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01.06.2013; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-eular.3106

Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage in several organs. This autoimmune reaction is caused by antibodies against dsDNA (adsDNAabs). Most patients with SLE develop joint pain and about 70% develop renal symptoms, partly with lupus nephritis leading to proteinuria. It is still unclear why the kidney and especially the podocytes (filtrating cells of the renal glomerulus) are involved in such a dramatic manner during SLE. Methods Anti dsDNA antibodies were isolated from SLE-patients, cloned and produced recombinantly in HEK293 cells. Podocytes were treated with equal amounts of different adsDNAabs and control antibodies in time and concentration dependent experiments and examined by immunofluorescence. To investigate the degradation mechanism, cells were treated with Bafilomycine A or MG132 at different time points of co-cultivation with the antibodies. Results adsDNA-antibodies are taken up by cultivated podocytes selectively. They turn up in cytosolic aggregates. The uptake of adsDNAabs occurs in a concentration and time dependent manner. We found podocytes with up to 80 aggregates per cell. In a recovery experiment, we could show that these aggregates are eliminated over time in media without adsDNAabs. The degradation of these adsDNAabs is reduced in experiments under autophagy inhibiting conditions (treatment with Bafilomycin A) and number of aggregates after the inhibition of autophagy rises significantly up to twofold. Stimulation of Autophagy by MG132 leads to a better survival of the cells. The number of aggregates of podocytes treated with a control antibody is almost zero. Conclusions Podocytes are postmitotic and highly complex cells. Loss of these cells leads to kidney injury and proteinuria. During lupus-nephritis, podocytes are destroyed. We could show that these cells take up SLE-antibodies selectively and are harmed by these antibody-aggregates. Furthermore, we have first evidence that the induction of autophagy can help to eliminate the aggregates. This should be considered for future therapeutic approaches in lupus nephritis. Disclosure of Interest None Declared