Podocyte injury induced by mesangial-derived cytokines in IgA nephropathy

Background. We have previously documented that human mesangial cell (HMC)-derived tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an important mediator involved in the glomerulo-tubular communication in the development of interstitial damage in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). With the strategic position of podocytes, we further examined the function of podocytes in IgAN. Methods.Podocyte markers were examined inrenal tissues by immunofluorescence. In vitro experiments were conducted with podocytes cultured with polymeric IgA (pIgA) orconditionedmediumpreparedfromHMCincubatedwith pIgA (IgA–HMC conditioned medium). Results. Glomerular immunostaining for nephrin or ezrin was significantly weaker in patients with IgAN. The immunostaining of IgA and nephrin was distinctly separate with no co-localization. In vitro experiments revealed no effect of pIgA on the expression of these podocyte proteins as IgA from IgAN patients did not bind to podocytes. In contrast, IgA conditioned medium prepared from IgAN patientsdown-regulated theexpression ofthesepodocyte proteinsaswellasotherpodocytemarkers(podocinandsynaptopodin) in cultured podocytes. The mRNA expression of nephrin, erzin, podocin but not synaptopodin correlated with the degree of proteinuria and creatinine clearance. The down-regulation was reproducible in podocytes cultured with TNF-α or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) at concentration comparable to that in the IgA–HMC conditioned medium. The expression of these podocyte proteins was restored partially with a neutralizing antibody againstTNF-αorTGF-βandfullywithcombinationofboth antibodies. Conclusion. Our finding suggests podocyte markers are reduced in IgAN. An in vitro study implicates that humoral factors (predominantly TNF-α and TGF-β) released from mesangial cellsarelikelytoaltertheglomerular permeabil