Pathological aspects of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) / thrombocytic thrombopenic purpura (TTP)

2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (02) ◽  
pp. 265-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Benz ◽  
Kerstin Amann
Keyword(s):  
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Morphological Alteration ◽  
Vascular Morphology ◽  
Electron Microscopical Level ◽  
Electron Microscopical ◽  
Von Willebrand

SummaryIn this paper, epidemiology, pathogenesis and typical morphological aspects of all three types of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN), of the haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) as well as of thrombotic thrombopenic purpura (TTP) will be reviewed on the light microscopical, immunohistological or immunofluorescence and electron microscopical level. In particular, differences in the pathogenesis of these diseases are discussed. Important recent molecular and genetic insights into the pathogenesis of the three types of MPGN, of typical and atypical HUS and of TTP, i.e. dysregulation of the complement system, distinct molecular defects in C3 and factor H, the major regulatory protein of the alternative pathway of complement activation, and deficiency of a von Willebrand factor (VWF) -cleaving protease, i.e. ADAMTS13, are highlighted. Finally, particular emphasis will be put on differences in glomerular and vascular morphology in the three types of MPGN and in thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which is the characteristic morphological alteration of the kidney in HUS and TTP, respectively.

scholarly journals CFHR5 Genetic Variations and Serum Levels in Patients with Immune-Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis and C3-Glomerulopathy

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nóra Garam ◽  
Marcell Cserhalmi ◽  
Zoltán Prohászka ◽  
Ágnes Szilágyi ◽  
Nóra Veszeli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Complex ◽  
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Genetic Alterations ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Complement Factor ◽  
C3 Glomerulopathy

Abstract Background: Factor H-related-5 (FHR-5) is a member of the complement Factor H protein family. Due to the homology to Factor H, the main complement regulator of the alternative pathway, it may also be implicated in pathomechanism of kidney diseases where Factor H and alternative pathway dysregulation play a role. Here, we report the first observational study on CFHR5 variations along with serum FHR-5 levels in immune-complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) patients together with the clinical, genetic, complement and follow-up data.Results: 120 patients with a histologically-proven diagnosis of IC-MPGN/C3G were enrolled in the study. FHR-5 serum levels were measured in ELISA, the CFHR5 gene was analyzed by Sanger-sequencing, and selected mutants were studied as recombinant proteins in ELISA and SPR.Eight relevant CFHR5 variations in 14 patients (11.7%) were observed, 5 of them identified as pathogenic for C3G. The FHR-5G278S and FHR-5R356H mutations altered the interaction of FHR-5 with C3b, when compared to the FHR-5WT. Serum FHR-5 levels were lower in patients compared to controls. Low serum FHR-5 concentration at presentation associated with better renal survival during the follow-up period, furthermore, it showed clear association with signs of hypocomplementemia and clinically meaningful clusters.Conclusions: Our observations support the hypothesis that FHR-5 protein and its genetic alterations play a role in the pathogenesis of IC-MPGN/C3G.

scholarly journals Molecular basis of the enhanced susceptibility of the erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria to hemolysis in acidified serum

Blood ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 820-829 ◽  
Author(s):  
LA Wilcox ◽  
JL Ezzell ◽  
NJ Bernshaw ◽  
CJ Parker
Keyword(s):  
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Membrane Attack Complex ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Alternative Pathways ◽  
Complement Control Protein ◽  
Alternative Pathway Of Complement ◽  
Regulatory Effects ◽  
And Control

Abstract When incubated in acidified serum, the erythrocytes of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) are hemolyzed through activation of the alternative pathway of complement (APC), but normal erythrocytes are resistant to this process. PNH cells are deficient in decay- accelerating factor (DAF), a complement regulatory protein that inhibits the activity of both the classical and the alternative pathways. However, deficiency of DAF alone does not account entirely for the aberrant effects of acidified serum on PNH cells. Recently, we have shown that PNH erythrocytes are also deficient in another complement control protein called membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (MIRL) that restricts complement-mediated lysis by blocking formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC). To determine the effects of the DAF and MIRL on susceptibility to acidified serum lysis, PNH cells were repleted with the purified proteins. DAF partially inhibited acidified serum lysis by blocking the activity of the amplification C3 convertase. MIRL inhibited acidified serum lysis both by blocking the activity of the MAC and by inhibiting the activity the C3 convertase. When DAF function was blocked with antibody, normal erythrocytes became partially susceptible to acidified serum lysis. By blocking MIRL, cells were made completely susceptible to lysis, and control of C3 convertase activity was partially lost. When both DAF and MIRL were blocked, the capacity of normal erythrocytes to control the activity of the APC and the MAC was destroyed, and the cells hemolyzed even in unacidified serum. These studies demonstrate that DAF and MIRL act in concert to control susceptibility to acidified serum lysis; of the two proteins, MIRL is the more important. In addition to its regulatory effects on the MAC, MIRL also influences the activity of the C3 convertase of the APC. Further, in the absence of DAF and MIRL, the plasma regulators (factor H and factor I) lack the capacity to control membrane- associated activation of the APC.

scholarly journals FHR-5 Serum Levels and CFHR5 Genetic Variations in Patients With Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis and C3-Glomerulopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nóra Garam ◽  
Marcell Cserhalmi ◽  
Zoltán Prohászka ◽  
Ágnes Szilágyi ◽  
Nóra Veszeli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Complex ◽  
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Complement Factor ◽  
C3 Glomerulopathy

BackgroundFactor H-related protein 5 (FHR-5) is a member of the complement Factor H protein family. Due to the homology to Factor H, the main complement regulator of the alternative pathway, it may also be implicated in the pathomechanism of kidney diseases where Factor H and alternative pathway dysregulation play a role. Here, we report the first observational study on CFHR5 variations along with serum FHR-5 levels in immune complex-mediated membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) and C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) patients together with the clinical, genetic, complement, and follow-up data.MethodsA total of 120 patients with a histologically proven diagnosis of IC-MPGN/C3G were enrolled in the study. FHR-5 serum levels were measured in ELISA, the CFHR5 gene was analyzed by Sanger sequencing, and selected variants were studied as recombinant proteins in ELISA and surface plasmon resonance (SPR).ResultsEight exonic CFHR5 variations in 14 patients (12.6%) were observed. Serum FHR-5 levels were lower in patients compared to controls. Low serum FHR-5 concentration at presentation associated with better renal survival during the follow-up period; furthermore, it showed clear association with signs of complement overactivation and clinically meaningful clusters.ConclusionsOur observations raise the possibility that the FHR-5 protein plays a fine-tuning role in the pathogenesis of IC-MPGN/C3G.

scholarly journals CFH and CFHR Copy Number Variations in C3 Glomerulopathy and Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rossella Piras ◽  
Matteo Breno ◽  
Elisabetta Valoti ◽  
Marta Alberti ◽  
Paraskevas Iatropoulos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Complex ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Copy Number ◽  
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Copy Number Variations ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Complement C3 ◽  
Complement Factor ◽  
C3 Glomerulopathy

C3 Glomerulopathy (C3G) and Immune Complex-Mediated Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (IC-MPGN) are rare diseases characterized by glomerular deposition of C3 caused by dysregulation of the alternative pathway (AP) of complement. In approximately 20% of affected patients, dysregulation is driven by pathogenic variants in the two components of the AP C3 convertase, complement C3 (C3) and Factor B (CFB), or in complement Factor H (CFH) and Factor I (CFI), two genes that encode complement regulators. Copy number variations (CNVs) involving the CFH-related genes (CFHRs) that give rise to hybrid FHR proteins also have been described in a few C3G patients but not in IC-MPGN patients. In this study, we used multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) to study the genomic architecture of the CFH-CFHR region and characterize CNVs in a large cohort of patients with C3G (n = 103) and IC-MPGN (n = 96) compared to healthy controls (n = 100). We identified new/rare CNVs resulting in structural variants (SVs) in 5 C3G and 2 IC-MPGN patients. Using long-read single molecule real-time sequencing (SMRT), we detected the breakpoints of three SVs. The identified SVs included: 1) a deletion of the entire CFH in one patient with IC-MPGN; 2) an increased number of CFHR4 copies in one IC-MPGN and three C3G patients; 3) a deletion from CFHR3-intron 3 to CFHR3-3′UTR (CFHR34–6Δ) that results in a FHR3-FHR1 hybrid protein in a C3G patient; and 4) a CFHR31–5-CFHR410 hybrid gene in a C3G patient. This work highlights the contribution of CFH-CFHR CNVs to the pathogenesis of both C3G and IC-MPGN.

Molecular basis of complement-mediated renal disease

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Medjeral-Thomas ◽  
Anna Richards ◽  
Matthew C. Pickering
Keyword(s):  
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Protein Family ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Complement Factor ◽  
C3 Glomerulopathy ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Dense Deposit ◽  
Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Glomerular Lesions

Abnormal regulation of complement is intimately associated with C3 glomerulopathy and atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome is characterized by renal thrombotic microangiopathy due to an inability to regulate complement activation along the renal endothelium. The development of thrombosis is critically dependent on the ability to activate C5. Eculizumab, a monoclonal anti-C5 antibody, is an effective therapy for this condition. C3 glomerulopathy refers to glomerular lesions characterized by accumulation of C3 in the absence of immunoglobulin. The prototypic example is dense deposit disease. This condition is associated with impaired regulation of the alternative pathway in plasma. In other subtypes of C3 glomerulopathy, familial studies have identified mutations within the complement factor H-related protein family. Polymorphic variation within this protein family also influences susceptibility to IgA nephropathy. The mechanism underlying these associations remains unknown and is the subject of ongoing research efforts.

scholarly journals Low factor H–related 5 levels contribute to infection-triggered haemolytic uraemic syndrome and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Gómez Delgado ◽  
Josué Gutiérrez-Tenorio ◽  
Gloria M Fraga Rodríguez ◽  
Teresa Cavero ◽  
Emilia Arjona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Renal Diseases ◽  
Complement Pathway ◽  
Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Chronic Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Alternative Complement ◽  
Combined Liver Kidney Transplant

Abstract Dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway is a major pathogenic mechanism in two rare renal diseases: atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). We report on a 66-year-old male with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and a combined liver–kidney transplant that was diagnosed with MPGN at the age of 63 years and a 5-year-old boy who presented with aHUS at the age of 21 months following a Streptococcus pneumoniae infection. Both patients carried similar frameshift variants in the complement CFHR5 gene that segregate with reduced levels of factor H–related 5 (FHR-5). We conclude that low FHR-5 levels may predispose to viral and bacterial infections that then trigger different renal phenotypes.

PLATELET FACTOR H REGULATES THE ACTIVITY OF THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF COMPLEMENT ON THE SURFACE OF NORMAL AND PAROXYSMAL NOCTURNAL HEMOGLOBINURIA PLATELETS

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
D V Devine ◽  
W F Rosse
Keyword(s):  
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Regulatory Protein ◽  
Fluid Phase ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Metabolic Inhibitors ◽  
Platelet Factor ◽  
Complement Proteins ◽  
Protein Factor ◽  
Immunocytochemical Techniques

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)-is frequently complicated by thrombosis. It has been suggested that the abnormal interactions of PNH platelets with complement contribute to thrombosis. Using purified complement proteins, we have previously demonstrated that the platelets from some patients with PNH do not demonstrate elevated activity of C3bBb, the alternative pathway C3 amplification enzyme complex, even though they lack the C3bBb regulatory protein, decay accelerating factor (DAF). As measured by fluorescence flow cytometry, washed platelets from both normal donors and PNH patients released the fluid phase C3bBb regulatory protein, factor H, in response to the deposition of purified complement proteins. Platelet factor H was localized to the alpha granules by immunocytochemical techniques. A quantitative radioimmunoassay demonstrated that normal platelets released 54 ± 6 ng factor H/108 platelets in response to thrombin stimulation. PNH platelets contained less factor H (22 ±7 ng/108 platelets) than normal platelets. Thrombin stimulated platelets from patients with elevated C3bBb activity released less than half of the factor H measured in detergent extracts. However, thrombin stimulated platelets from PNH patients exhibiting normal C3bBb activity released nearly all their factor H. The release of factor H from normal platelets was blocked by treating the platelets with metabolic inhibitors. In the absence of factor H release, the activity of the C3bBb complex increased three-fold. In addition, the number of molecules of 1251-factor B bound per C3b increased from 0.40 to 0.92 when factor H release was blocked. The inhibition of DAF by anti-DAF had no effect on the activity of C3bBb if factor H could be released from the platelets. However, when factor H release was blocked by treatment with metabolic inhibitors, the inhibition of DAF by anti-DAF increased the activity of C3bBb by 40%. Therefore, in the absence of DAF, platelets can regulate complement activation by the alternative pathway via the release of platelet factor H. Since factor H is an alpha granule protein, platelet release in the presence of activated complement may contribute to the occurrence of thrombosis.

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