Biology subjects

Meyer-Schwesinger, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Meyer-Schwesinger, C..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Podocyte exopher-formation as a novel pathomechanism in membranous nephropathy

BackgroundMembranous nephropathy (MN) is caused by autoantibody binding to podocyte foot process antigens such as THSD7A and PLA2R1. The mechanisms of the glomerular antigen/autoantibody deposition and clearance are unknown. MethodsWe explore the origin and significance of glomerular accumulations in (1) diagnostic and follow-up biospecimens from THSD7A+ and PLA2R1+-MN patients compared to nephrotic non-MN patients, and (2) in experimental models of THSD7A+-MN. ResultsWe discovered podocyte exophers as correlates of histological antigen/autoantibody aggregates found in the glomerular urinary space of MN patients. Exopher vesicle formation represents a novel form of toxic protein aggregate removal in Caenorhabditis elegans neurons. In MN patients, podocytes released exophers to the urine. Enrichment of exophers from MN patient urines established them as a glomerular exit route for antigens and bound autoantibody. Exophers also carried disease-associated proteins such as complement and provided a molecular imprint of podocyte injury pathways. In experimental THSD7A+-MN, exophers were formed from podocyte processes and cell body. Their formation involved the translocation of antigen/autoantibody from the subepithelial to the urinary side of podocyte plasma membranes. Urinary exopher-release correlated with lower albuminuria and lower glomerular antigen/autoantibody burden. In MN patients the prospective monitoring of urinary exopher abundance and of exopher-bound autoantibodies was additive in the assessment of immunologic MN activity. ConclusionsExopher-formation and release is a novel pathomechanism in MN to remove antigen/autoantibody aggregates from the podocyte. Tracking exopher-release will add a non-invasive diagnostic tool with prognostic potential to clinical diagnostics and follow-up of MN patients.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Transcriptional and clonal characterization of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in crescentic glomerulonephritis

Crescentic glomerulonephritis (cGN), most often caused by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, is an aggressive form of immune-mediated kidney disease and represents an important cause of end-stage renal failure. Although it is known that T cells infiltrate the kidney in cGN, their precise role in autoimmune kidney disease remains to be fully elucidated. By performing single-cell analysis, we identified activated, clonally expanded CD8+ T cells with a cytotoxic gene expression profile in the kidneys of patients with ANCA-associated cGN. Using an experimental model of cGN, we demonstrated that clonally expanded murine CD8+ T cells highly expressed the cytotoxic molecule granzyme B. Moreover, lack of CD8+ T cells or granzyme B resulted in an ameliorated course of cGN. This was associated with reduced cleaved caspase-3 induction in renal tissue cells. Our data indicate that clonally expanded cytotoxic CD8+ T cells have a previously unrecognized pathogenic function in aggravating immune-mediated kidney disease.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2022

GM-CSF drives immune-mediated glomerular disease by licensing monocyte-derived cells to produce MMP12

Glomerulonephritis is a group of immune-mediated diseases that cause inflammation within the glomerulus and adjacent compartments of the kidney and is a major cause of end-stage renal disease. T cells are among the main drivers of glomerulonephritis. However, the T cell subsets, cytokine networks, and downstream effector mechanisms that lead to renal tissue injury are largely unknown, which has hindered the development of targeted therapies. Here we identify a population of GM-CSF-producing T cells that accumulates in the kidneys of patients with ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis, infiltrates the renal tissue in a mouse model of glomerulonephritis, and promotes tissue destruction and loss of renal function. Mechanistically, we show that GM-CSF producing T cells licence monocyte-derived cells to produce matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12), which cleaves components of the glomerular basement membrane and exacerbates renal pathology. These findings provide a mechanistic rationale for the immunopathology of T cell-mediated diseases and identify the "GM-CSF - monocyte-derived cells - MMP12" pathway as a promising therapeutic target in treatment of glomerulonephritis.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2020

Tripartite separation of glomerular cell-types and proteomes from reporter-free mice

PurposeThe kidney glomerulus comprises a syncytium of podocytes, mesangial and endothelial cells, which jointly determine glomerular filtration barrier function, and thereby kidney and cardiovascular health. The understanding of this intricate functional unit and its intracellular communication beyond the transcriptome requires bulk isolation of these cell-types from glomeruli for subsequent biochemical investigations. Therefore, we developed a globally applicable tripartite isolation method for murine mesangial and endothelial cells and podocytes (timMEP). MethodsGlomerular cells were separated via a novel FACS-sort depending on a cell-specific antibody labeling in wildtype mice or based on a combination of transgenic fluorescent protein expression and antibody labeling in mT/mG mice. The purity of isolated cell-types was validated by qPCR and immunoblot. The proteome of podocytes, mesangial and endothelial cells was determined and compared between species, ages and gender of wildtype and mT/mG mice. The method was also applied to the podocyte-targeting immunologic injury model of THSD7A-associated membranous glomerulonephritis. ResultsTimMEP enabled protein-biochemical analyses of podocytes, mesangial and endothelial cells derived from a single reporter free mouse. Proteomic analyses allowed the first characterization of podocyte, endothelial and mesangial proteomes of individual mice. Marker proteins for mesangial and endothelial proteins were determined, and protein-based interaction and intraglomerular cell communication networks were elucidated. Interestingly, analyses revealed significant cell-type specific proteome differences between mouse strains, artefacts induced by reporters, and alterations depending on gender and age. Within the glomerulus, timMEP resolved a fine-tuned initial stress response exclusively in podocytes after exposure to anti-THSD7A antibodies, which was not detectable using conventional analyses in whole glomeruli. ConclusionGlobally applicable timMEP abolishes the need for costly, time- and animal-consuming breeding of mice to glomerular cell-type reporters. TimMEP enables glomerular cell-type resolved investigations at the transcriptional and protein biochemical level in health and disease, while avoiding reporter-based artefacts, paving the way towards the comprehensive and systematic characterization of glomerular cell-type biology. Key messagesO_LIA tripartite isolation method for mesangial, endothelial and podocyte cell-types from reporter-free mice. C_LIO_LIGeneration of bulk cell-type samples and primary co-cultures for biochemical and protein-based analyses. C_LIO_LIStrain and transgene-dependent expression of proteins among glomerular cell-types, including protein profiles, intra-glomerular communication machineries, and reporter-dependent artefacts. C_LIO_LIDisease specific time-resolved resolution of glomerular cell-types response to injury. C_LI

cell biology↗