Association between anti-beta2 glycoprotein I antibodies and renal glomerular C4d deposition in lupus nephritis patients with glomerular microthrombosis: a prospective study of 155 cases.
Glomerular microthrombosis (GMT) is a common vascular change in patients with lupus nephritis (LN). The mechanism underlying GMT is still unknown. In our previous study, we found that the level of IgG anti-beta2 glycoprotein I (beta2GPI) antibodies was higher in the LN-GMT group than in the LN-non-GMT group, which indicated that anti-beta2GPI antibodies may play a role in GMT formation. Many studies have demonstrated that the activation of the classical complement pathway may play a critical role in fetal loss and aPL-induced thrombosis formation. To investigate whether complement activation plays a role in GMT formation and to evaluate its relationship with aPL, we prospectively investigated deposition of C4d in 155 renal biopsy specimens of LN patients. The results revealed a strong relationship between the intensity of glomerular C4d staining and the presence of microthrombi (p < 0.001). The detection rate of IgG anti-beta2GPI antibodies was higher in the LN-GMT group than in the LN-non-GMT group (p < 0.05). Further, the intensity of glomerular C4d staining was significantly related with IgG anti-beta2GPI antibodies (p < 0.05). The results of our study suggest that anti-beta2GPI antibodies may play a role in GMT formation, and this process might involve complement activation.
Shen
Y
Y
Department of Rheumatology, Renji Hospital Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Chen
X-W
XW
Sun
C-Y
CY
Dai
M
M
Yan
Y-C
YC
Yang
C-D
CD
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D015935:Complement C4b / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D053482:beta 2-Glycoprotein I; D015935:Complement C4b; C032261:complement C4d