title: Glycosylation profile of differently charged IgA1 and their binding characteristics to cultured mesangial cells in IgA nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by mesangial deposition of polymeric IgA1 (pIgA1), yet the pathogeneic mechanism remains unresolved. In the present study, we examined the glycosylation profile of differently charged IgA1 from IgAN patients. The binding characteristics of these IgA1 fractions to cultured human mesangial cells (HMC) and hepatoma cell lines (HepG2) were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differently charged IgA1 were isolated by ion exchange chromatography. The glycosylation profile in the carbohydrate moieties of these differently charged IgA1 was analyzed by galactose (Gal)-, galactose-acetylgalactosamine (Gal-GalNAc)-, or sialic acid-specific enzyme-linked lectin binding assays (ELLA). The binding characteristic of these IgA1 to HMC was examined by flow cytometry and competitive binding assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anionic pIgA from IgAN patients showed less reactivity in (Gal)- and (Gal-GalNAc)-specific ELLA (p < 0.01). There was higher reactivity for anionic pIgA1 in alpha(2,6)-linked sialic acid-specific ELLA (p < 0.01). Anionic pIgA1 from IgAN patients exhibited increased binding to cultured HMC and the binding was significantly reduced after neuraminidase treatment (p < 0.05). In contrast, anionic pIgA1 from IgAN patients bound less to cultured HepG2 cells and the binding was enhanced following neuraminidase treatment (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated an unusual glycosylation and sialylation pattern of anionic pIgA1 in IgAN which may have an important effect on its pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
authors.forename: Joseph C K
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Loretta Y Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Sydney C W
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fenn
authors.forename: Kar Neng
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D000116:Acetylgalactosamine / Q000032:analysis; D000328:Adult; D000838:Anions; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D002412:Cations; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005690:Galactose / Q000032:analysis; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D050527:Mesangial Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D011485:Protein Binding; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; C034639:polymeric IgA; D009439:Neuraminidase; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D000116:Acetylgalactosamine; D005690:Galactose