Complement C3 Produced by Macrophages Promotes Renal Fibrosis via IL-17A Secretion

Frontiers in Immunology

Chunxiu Zhang¹  Gang Xu¹  Shuwang Ge¹  Ran Luo¹  Ying Zhang¹  Yanyan Liu¹  Yueqiang Li¹  Kun Wang¹  Haotian Wei¹  Xinjun Liang² 

[1] Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China;Hubei Cancer Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China;

关键词: complement component 3;    macrophage;    renal fibrosis (RF);    IL-17A;    IgAN;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fimmu.2018.02385

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Complement synthesis in cells of origin is strongly linked to the pathogenesis and progression of renal disease. Multiple studies have examined local C3 synthesis in renal disease and elucidated the contribution of local cellular sources, but the contribution of infiltrating inflammatory cells remains unclear. We investigate the relationships among C3, macrophages and Th17 cells, which are involved in interstitial fibrosis. Here, we report that increased local C3 expression, mainly by monocyte/macrophages, was detected in renal biopsy specimens and was correlated with the severity of renal fibrosis (RF) and indexes of renal function. In mouse models of UUO (unilateral ureteral obstruction), we found that local C3 was constitutively expressed throughout the kidney in the interstitium, from which it was released by F4/80+macrophages. After the depletion of macrophages using clodronate, mice lacking macrophages exhibited reductions in C3 expression and renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Blocking C3 expression with a C3 and C3aR inhibitor provided similar protection against renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis. These protective effects were associated with reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines, renal recruitment of inflammatory cells, and the Th17 response. in vitro, recombinant C3a significantly enhanced T cell proliferation and IL-17A expression, which was mediated through phosphorylation of ERK, STAT3, and STAT5 and activation of NF-kB in T cells. More importantly, blockade of C3a by a C3aR inhibitor drastically suppressed IL-17A expression in C3a-stimulated T cells. We propose that local C3 secretion by macrophages leads to IL-17A-mediated inflammatory cell infiltration into the kidney, which further drives fibrogenic responses. Our findings suggest that inhibition of the C3a/C3aR pathway is a novel therapeutic approach for obstructive nephropathy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown