Molecular insights into the early stage of glomerular injury in IgA nephropathy using single-cell RNA sequencingShow others and affiliations
2022 (English)In: Kidney International, ISSN 0085-2538, E-ISSN 1523-1755, Vol. 101, no 4, p. 752-765Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis worldwide and defined by the presence of IgA-containing immune complexes in the mesangium that induce an inflammation leading to glomerulonephritis. Since we poorly understand early mechanisms of glomerular injury in IgAN we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of glomerulus-associated cells using SMARTseq2-technology at the early stage of IgAN in grouped ddY-mice. Cell-specific molecular signatures unraveled a key role of endothelial cells in the early pathogenesis of IgAN, especially in the recruitment and infiltration of immune cells. Mesangial and podocyte cells demonstrated less molecular changes. Several intraglomerular paracrine pathways were detected, such as mesangial cell-derived Slit3 potentially activating Roboreceptors in podocyte/endothelial cells. Surprisingly, proximal tubular cells were strongly affected at the early stage and potential glomerulo-tubular cell-cell crosstalk pathways were identified. Importantly, many of the cellular transcriptomic signatures identified in this well-established mouse model were also detected in published bulk transcriptomic data in human IgAN. Moreover, we validated the functionality of key cell-cell crosstalk pathways using cell culture models, such as the effect of the Slit-Robo signalling axis. Thus, our study provides important novel molecular insights into the pathogenesis of early IgAN-associated glomerulopathy.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV Elsevier, 2022. Vol. 101, no 4, p. 752-765
Keywords [en]
glomerulus, IgA nephropathy, single-cell sequencing
National Category
Clinical Medicine
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-473711DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.12.011ISI: 000779149600012PubMedID: 34968552OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-473711DiVA, id: diva2:1656162
Funder
Swedish Research Council, 2015-00550Swedish Cancer Society, 150735Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, 2015.0030DiabetesfondenMarianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation2022-05-042022-05-042025-02-18Bibliographically approved