The antigen-binding fragment of anti-double-stranded DNA IgG enhances F-actin formation in mesangial cells by binding to alpha-actinin-4

Exp Biol Med (Maywood). 2012 Sep;237(9):1023-31. doi: 10.1258/ebm.2012.012033. Epub 2012 Aug 28.

Abstract

Anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) IgG causes renal damage in patients with lupus nephritis by cross-reacting with multiple autoantigens, including alpha-actinin-4, in mesangial cells (MCs). However, how the cross-reactions play a role in mesangial phenotypic abnormalities is not well understood. Here, we investigated the effects of the fragment antigen-binding (Fab) of anti-dsDNA IgG3 on the biochemical properties of alpha-actinin-4. Experiments revealed that anti-dsDNA Fab specifically binds to alpha-actinin-4, but not G-actin. The binding by anti-dsDNA Fab sequentially increases the positive charge of alpha-actinin-4 and inhibits the affinity of alpha-actinin-4 to calcium ions. By the low shear viscosity and a co-sedimentation assay, we found that the alpha-actinin-4-induced F-actin gelation improves when anti-dsDNA Fab is added. However, the Fab control has no such effect on F-actin gelation. Furthermore, the in vitro cultured MCs exhibit higher F-actin expression and transforming growth factor-β1 synthesis after the incubation with anti-dsDNA Fab. Therefore, our results indicated that anti-dsDNA Fab may enhance F-actin formation by the proprietary modification of alpha-actinin-4, which could partially explain the myofibroblast-like phenotype of MCs in anti-dsDNA-positive lupus nephritis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actinin / immunology
  • Actinin / metabolism*
  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / immunology*
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear / metabolism
  • Autoantigens / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • DNA / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / metabolism
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin G / metabolism
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Lupus Nephritis / immunology
  • Lupus Nephritis / pathology
  • Mesangial Cells / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Myofibroblasts
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Actins
  • Actn4 protein, mouse
  • Antibodies, Antinuclear
  • Autoantigens
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • Actinin
  • DNA