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Analyses of Proteinuria, Renal Infiltration of Leukocytes, and Renal Deposition of Proteins in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr Mice
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Increased Mer and Axl receptor tyrosine kinase expression on glomeruli in lupus nephritis

Shanshan Li1,2, Qianyu Guo3, Huaqun Zhu1

  • 1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.

Clinical Rheumatology
|January 28, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Receptor tyrosine kinases MerTK and AxlTK are elevated in lupus nephritis (LN) patients, particularly in severe cases. Their increased expression on glomeruli suggests a role in LN pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Mer and Axl receptor tyrosine kinases (MerTK and AxlTK) are crucial for apoptotic cell clearance and inflammation modulation.
  • Previous research indicated potential involvement of MerTK and AxlTK in glomerular injury.
  • Understanding their role in lupus nephritis (LN) is essential for comprehending disease mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the expression of MerTK and AxlTK on glomeruli in lupus nephritis (LN) patients.
  • To analyze the clinical significance and correlations of MerTK and AxlTK expression with disease characteristics in LN.
  • To compare MerTK and AxlTK expression between LN patients and those with primary nephrotic syndrome (NS).

Main Methods:

  • Immunohistochemistry was employed to measure MerTK and AxlTK expression on glomeruli.
  • Patient cohorts included 29 LN patients and 10 primary NS patients.
  • Statistical analyses (ANOVA, t-test, Mann-Whitney U, Pearson's, Spearman's correlations) were used to assess differences and relationships.

Main Results:

  • MerTK and AxlTK were predominantly expressed on mesangial cells.
  • LN patients exhibited significantly higher glomerular expression of both MerTK and AxlTK compared to primary NS patients (p < 0.01).
  • In LN patients, MerTK expression positively correlated with AxlTK expression (r = 0.529, p < 0.01), and higher levels were observed in Class IV LN, correlating with immunoglobulin and complement deposition.

Conclusions:

  • Both MerTK and AxlTK expression are increased on glomeruli in lupus nephritis patients.
  • Expression levels vary with pathological classifications, including LN class and immune deposits.
  • These findings suggest that MerTK and AxlTK may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis.
Keywords:
Axl receptor tyrosine kinaseImmune disorderLupus nephritisMer receptor tyrosine kinasePathology

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