title: Increased Mer and Axl receptor tyrosine kinase expression on glomeruli in lupus nephritis.
abstract: Mer and Axl receptor tyrosine kinases (MerTK and AxlTK) play important roles in the clearance of apoptotic cells and the inhibition of inflammatory responses. Previous studies demonstrated that they might participate in glomerular injury in mice model. This study aimed to elucidate the expression of MerTK and AxlTK on glomeruli and analyze their clinical significance in lupus nephritis (LN) patients. Twenty-nine LN and 10 primary nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients were recruited. The expression of MerTK and AxlTK on glomeruli was measured by immunohistochemistry. Correlations between the levels of MerTK and AxlTK and clinical data were investigated. Statistical differences in each group were calculated by one-way analysis of variance, t test, or Mann-Whitney U test. Correlations were evaluated with Pearson's or Spearman's correlation tests. Both MerTK and AxlTK were expressed mainly on mesangial cells. LN patients demonstrated more expression of MerTK and AxlTK than primary NS patients (1.19 ± 1.01 × 10-2vs 0.21 ± 0.29 × 10-2, 7.25 ± 2.69 × 10-2vs 3.10 ± 1.22 × 10-2, p < 0.01). In LN patients, MerTK expression correlated with AxlTK (r = 0.529, p < 0.01). LN patients with class IV expressed more MerTK and AxlTK (1.50 ± 1.03 × 10-2and 7.56 ± 2.93 × 10-2). The expression of MerTK and AxlTK varied according to the deposition of immunoglobulin and complements on glomeruli. Both MerTK and AxlTK expressions were increased on glomeruli and varied according to pathological classifications. Thus, we assumed that both two subsets might participate in the pathogenesis of LN.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.|Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shanxi DaYi Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Taiyuan, China.
authors.forename: Qianyu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Huaqun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Zhanguo
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China. suyin0921@163.com.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, People's Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China. dongbao@medmail.com.cn.
authors.forename: Bao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D000076202:c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D004247:DNA; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D000076202:c-Mer Tyrosine Kinase; D000094963:Axl Receptor Tyrosine Kinase; C000722289:AXL protein, human
keywords: Axl receptor tyrosine kinase; Immune disorder; Lupus nephritis; Mer receptor tyrosine kinase; Pathology