Anti-dsDNA antibody induces soluble fibronectin secretion by proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and downstream increase of TGF-β1 and collagen synthesis

•Human anti-dsDNA antibodies increase soluble and cell-associated fibronectin in PTEC.•Anti-dsDNA antibodies activate MAPK and PKC signaling pathways.•Soluble fibronectin promotes TGF-β1 secretion and collagen type I synthesis in PTEC.•MPA inhibits fibronectin synthesis and MAPK/PKC activation induced by anti-dsDNA antibodies.

The level of anti-dsDNA antibodies correlates with disease activity in lupus nephritis, but their role in pathogenic mechanisms remains to be defined. We investigated the effect of anti-dsDNA antibodies isolated from lupus nephritis patients on fibronectin synthesis and downstream fibrogenesis in proximal renal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC). Kidney biopsies were obtained from patients with active severe proliferative lupus nephritis. In vitro studies with cultured PTEC were performed to investigate the effect of human polyclonal IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies and mycophenolic acid (MPA). The role of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α, TGF-β1, and MAPK and PKC signaling pathways on soluble and cell-associated fibronectin synthesis was investigated using neutralizing antibodies or specific inhibitors. The effect of exogenous endotoxin-free soluble fibronectin on downstream fibrotic processes was also examined. Fibronectin expression was markedly increased in the tubulo-interstitium of lupus nephritis renal biopsies and it co-localized with IgG deposition. Anti-dsDNA antibodies significantly increased both secreted and cell-associated fibronectin, through prior activation of ERK, p38 MAPK, JNK, PKC-α and PKC-βII. There was downstream induction of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α and TGF-β1. MPA inhibited the induction of inflammatory and fibrotic processes by anti-dsDNA antibody. Exogenous soluble fibronectin induced TGF-β1 secretion and type I collagen synthesis in PTEC in a dose-dependent manner. Our data demonstrate that anti-dsDNA antibody contributes to tubulo-interstitial fibrosis in lupus nephritis through its action on PTEC. Anti-dsDNA antibody induces both cell-associated and soluble fibronectin secretion in PTEC, the former adds to extracellular matrix deposition while the latter amplifies the fibrotic process through induction of TGF-β1 and collagen type I. The pro-fibrotic effects of anti-dsDNA antibody are ameliorated by MPA.