Renal expression of polyomavirus large T antigen is associated with nephritis in human systemic lupus erythematosus.
We have demonstrated that glomerular expression of polyomavirus large T antigen (T-ag) in a binary tetracycline-regulated T-ag transgenic mouse model (i) terminated tolerance for nucleosomes, (ii) released complexes of nucleosomes and T-ag to the microenvironment from dead cells, and (iii) that these complexes bound induced anti-nucleosome antibodies and finally (iv) that they associated with glomerular membranes as immune complexes. This process may be relevant for human lupus nephritis, since productive polyomavirus infection is associated with this organ manifestation. Here, we compare nephritis in the T-ag transgenic mouse with nephritis in human SLE. Glomerular sections were analysed by transmission electron microscopy, immune electron microscopy (IEM) and by co-localization IEM and TUNEL IEM assays to compare morphological changes, composition of immune complexes and formation of nucleosome-T-ag complexes. Affinity of nucleosome-T-ag complexes for glomerular collagen IV and laminin was determined by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Analyses revealed electron dense structures in both human and murine kidney samples. These EDS were shown to contain T-ag, DNA and histones, indicating that extra-cellular chromatin may originate from polyomavirus infected cells in human kidneys. SPR analyses demonstrated high affinity of nucleosomes and nucleosome-T-ag complexes for collagen IV and laminin. Complexes of nucleosomes, T-ag and anti-T-ag and anti-dsDNA antibodies bind glomerular membranes and contribute to the evolution of lupus nephritis in human SLE.
Fenton
Kristin Andreassen
KA
Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway.
Mjelle
Janne Erikke
JE
Jakobsen
Søren
S
Olsen
Randi
R
Rekvig
Ole Petter
OP
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D007700:Kinetics; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D051379:Mice; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009707:Nucleosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; D001323:Autoantibodies; D009707:Nucleosomes; D004247:DNA