B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its receptors' expression in pediatric nephrotic syndrome is associated with worse prognosis

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 17; no. 11; p. e0277800
• Main Authors: Forero-Delgadillo, Jessica, Ochoa, Vanessa, Restrepo, Jaime M, Torres-Canchala, Laura, Nieto-Aristizábal, Ivana, Ruiz-Ordoñez, Ingrid, Sánchez, Aura, Barrera, María Claudia, Jimenez, Carlos Andrés, Tobón, Gabriel J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 18.11.2022; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: B-Cell Activating Factor - metabolism; B-Cell Maturation Antigen; Biology and Life Sciences; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Blood pressure; BLyS protein; Child; Cloning; Cytokine receptors; Cytokines; Disease; Health aspects; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Inflammation; Interleukin-4; Kidney diseases; Lupus; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Measurement; Medical prognosis; Medicine and Health Sciences; Nephrology; Nephrotic Syndrome; Pathogenesis; Patients; Pediatric research; Pediatrics; Permeability; Prognosis; Receptors; Remission (Medicine); Renal function; Steroids; Survival; Transmembrane Activator and CAML Interactor Protein - genetics; Tumor necrosis factor; Variables; Colombia
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277800

Immune pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome (NS) is not completely understood. We aimed to evaluate the expression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and its receptors in renal samples from pediatric NS patients and its relationship with renal function survival. We conducted an ambispective study on 33 patients with pediatric NS. Immunohistochemistry for BAFF, TACI, BCMA and BR3 was performed. Markers were evaluated on podocytes and interstitial inflammatory infiltrates (III). We performed Kaplan-Meier curves to describe renal function survival according to markers' expression. Thirty-three NS patients were included. Minimal change disease was seen in 21 (63.6%) patients, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in 12 (36.4%). BAFF was found in podocytes (18.2% of samples) and III (36.4% of samples), BAFF-R in one sample, TACI in 4 (podocytes and III), and BCMA in 5 samples of podocytes and 7 of III. BAFF on podocytes and III was associated with worst renal function at follow-up; those patients had 25% probability of having GFR >90 mL/min/1.73m2, versus 84.9% when absent (p = 0.0067). Patients with BAFF in III had 42.9% probability of having GFR>90 mL/min/1.73 m2, versus 94.1% when absent (p = 0.0063). BAFF expression in renal biopsies could be a prognostic factor for renal function.