Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026
06:47
Isolation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Alveolar Periosteum and Effects of Vitamin D on Osteogenic Activity of Periosteum-derived Cells
Published on: May 4, 2018
9.9K
Mesenchymal Stem Cells Control Complement C5 Activation by Factor H in Lupus Nephritis.
Haijun Ma1, Chang Liu2, Bingyu Shi2
1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China; Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, China.
Ebiomedicine
|June 11, 2018
Summary
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) treat lupus nephritis (LN) by regulating the complement system. MSCs increase factor H (FH) levels, suppressing pathogenic C5 activation and improving kidney function in LN patients and mice.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Nephrology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often driven by uncontrolled complement system activation.
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown promise in treating severe LN, but their mechanisms of action, particularly in complement regulation, are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in regulating complement activation in lupus nephritis (LN).
- To elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which MSCs modulate the complement system in LN.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of complement components (C5a, C5b-9) in LN patients.
- Assessment of MSCs' effect on systemic and intrarenal complement activation in lupus mouse models.
- Measurement of factor H (FH) levels in patients and mice following MSCs transplantation.
- Investigation of interferon-alpha's role in FH secretion by MSCs.
Main Results:
- Elevated C5a and C5b-9 levels correlated with disease severity in LN patients.
- MSCs suppressed C5 activation, increased plasma factor H (FH) levels, and ameliorated renal disease in lupus mice.
- MSCs transplantation increased decreased FH levels in LN patients, with interferon-alpha enhancing FH secretion by MSCs.
Conclusions:
- Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) inhibit pathogenic C5 activation in lupus nephritis (LN) primarily through up-regulation of factor H (FH).
- This mechanism enhances understanding of MSCs' immunomodulatory effects in treating LN and highlights FH as a key mediator.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Mesenchymal Stem Cells
5.6K
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are adult stem cells that can differentiate into most connective tissue cell types, except for hematopoietic cells, depending upon the source of MSCs. For example, bone-marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) can differentiate into osteocytes, hepatocytes, and pancreatic and neuronal cells. MSCs can be isolated from various sources such as bone marrow, placenta, adipose tissue, teeth, and Wharton’s jelly, a gelatinous substance in the umbilical cord. The ease of their...
5.6K
01:17Factors Affecting Activity Coefficient
1.6K
The extended Debye-Hückel equation indicates that the activity coefficient of an ion in an aqueous solution at 25°C depends on three partially interdependent properties: the ionic strength of the solution, the charge of the ion, and the ion size.
The activity coefficient value for an ion is close to one when the solution has almost zero ionic strength, i.e., when the solution shows close to ideal behavior. As the ionic strength of the solution increases from 0 to 0.1 mol/L, a...
The activity coefficient value for an ion is close to one when the solution has almost zero ionic strength, i.e., when the solution shows close to ideal behavior. As the ionic strength of the solution increases from 0 to 0.1 mol/L, a...
1.6K
00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
32.5K
Embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells, meaning they can produce any cell type in the body. This gives them tremendous potential in science and medicine since they can generate specific cell types for use in research or to replace body cells lost due to damage or disease.
32.5K
01:27Complement System
10.8K
The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a...
10.8K
01:13Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
28.1K
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different types of cells. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are post-mitotic—that is, they no longer divide. However, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they “de-differentiate” and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are also pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are therefore...
28.1K
00:49Complementation Tests
6.3K
A complementation test is a simple cross to identify whether the two mutations are located on the same gene or different genes. It was first performed by Edward Lewis in the 1940s while working on fruit flies. He developed the test to identify the location and arrangement of different mutations on chromosomes.
Organisms heterozygous for different mutations are crossed pairwise in all combinations. If present on different genes, the mutations can complement each other by providing the missing...
Organisms heterozygous for different mutations are crossed pairwise in all combinations. If present on different genes, the mutations can complement each other by providing the missing...
6.3K