GSE192994
Digital spatial profiling revealed the mechanism involved in the progression of affected glomeruli in ANCA associated glomerulonephritis [RNA-Seq]
We previously showed that the rupture of Bowman's capsule (BC) promotes the progression of crescent glomerulonephritis by enhancing CD8+ T cell entry into the glomeruli. In the present study, we utilized digital spatial profiling to simultaneously profile the altered mRNA transcript and protein abundances in the glomerular and periglomerular areas of biopsy samples of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis. The paraffin-embedded biopsy samples were stained with Collagen IV, CD45, and Syto13 to distinguish the glomeruli with crescent formation but intact BC, with focal BC rupture, and with extensive rupture of BC and glomeruli without crescent formation and leukocytes infiltration in ANCA-GN. By assessing multiple discrete glomerular areas, we found that the transcript expression level of secreted phosphoprotein 1and its receptor CD44 were upregulated significantly in the glomeruli with more severe ruptures of BC, and their expression levels correlated positively with the fibrotic markers. We also found that 1) both alternative and classic complement pathways were activated in the glomeruli from patients with ANCA-GN; 2) M1 macrophages involved mostly in the early stage of BC rupture while M2 macrophages were involved in the late stage and may contribute to the fibrosis process of the crescents, and 3) apoptosis is likely the mechanism mediating the loss of glomerular cells in ANCA-GN. Our results demonstrate that digital spatial profiling allows the comparative analysis of mRNA and protein profiles in the individual glomeruli affected differently by the disease processes and to identify potential novel mechanisms in patients with ANCA-GN. Overall design: Digital spatial profiling of 4 ANCA patients and 2 MCD patients for RNA, and 3 ANCA patients (seletcted from the 4 ANCA patients) for protein