HSPB5 suppresses renal inflammation and protects lupus-prone NZB/W F1 mice from severe renal damage

Arthritis Research & Therapy

Research

Marsela Braunstein¹  Justin Knapp¹  Cody Shirriff¹  Spencer Iner Thomas Berg¹ 

[1] Serenity Bioworks, 151 Charles St. W, Suite 199, Kitchener, ON, Canada;

关键词: Lupus nephritis;    Systemic lupus erythematosus;    Autoimmunity;    Heat shock proteins;    HSPB5;    NZB/W F1 mice;    Macrophages;    Inflammation;    Treg;    Breg;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13075-022-02958-9

 received in 2022-09-13, accepted in 2022-11-22,  发布年份 2022

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLupus nephritis (LN) is an inflammatory disease of the kidneys affecting patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Current immunosuppressive and cytotoxic therapies are associated with serious side effects and fail to protect 20–40% of LN patients from end-stage renal disease. In this study, we investigated whether a small heat shock protein, HSPB5, can reduce kidney inflammation and the clinical manifestations of the disease in NZB/W F1 mice. Furthermore, we investigated whether HSPB5 can enhance the effects of methylprednisolone, a standard-of-care drug in LN, in an endotoxemia mouse model.MethodsNZB/W F1 mice were treated with HSPB5, methylprednisolone, or vehicle from 23 to 38 weeks of age. Disease progression was evaluated by weekly proteinuria scores. At the end of the study, the blood, urine, spleens, and kidneys were collected for the assessment of proteinuria, blood urea nitrogen, kidney histology, serum IL-6 and anti-dsDNA levels, immune cell populations, and their phenotypes, as well as the transcript levels of proinflammatory chemokine/cytokines in the kidneys. HSPB5 was also evaluated in combination with methylprednisolone in a lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia mouse model; serum IL-6 levels were measured at 24 h post-endotoxemia induction.ResultsHSPB5 significantly reduced terminal proteinuria and BUN and substantially improved kidney pathology. Similar trends, although to a lower extent, were observed with methylprednisolone treatment. Serum IL-6 levels and kidney expression of BAFF, IL-6, IFNγ, MCP-1 (CCL2), and KIM-1 were reduced, whereas nephrin expression was significantly preserved compared to vehicle-treated mice. Lastly, splenic Tregs and Bregs were significantly induced with HSPB5 treatment. HSPB5 in combination with methylprednisolone also significantly reduced serum IL-6 levels in endotoxemia mice.ConclusionsHSPB5 treatment reduces kidney inflammation and injury, providing therapeutic benefits in NZB/W F1 mice. Given that HSPB5 enhances the anti-inflammatory effects of methylprednisolone, there is a strong interest to develop HSBP5 as a therapeutic for the treatment of LN.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s) 2022

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