uPAR isoform 2 forms a dimer and induces severe kidney disease in mice
Changli Wei, … , M. Amin Arnaout, Jochen Reiser
Changli Wei, … , M. Amin Arnaout, Jochen Reiser
Published February 7, 2019
Citation Information: J Clin Invest. 2019;129(5):1946-1959. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI124793.
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Research Article Nephrology

uPAR isoform 2 forms a dimer and induces severe kidney disease in mice

Abstract

Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is an immune-derived circulating signaling molecule that has been implicated in chronic kidney disease, such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Typically, native uPAR (isoform 1) translates to a 3-domain protein capable of binding and activating integrins, yet the function of additional isoforms generated by alternative splicing is unknown. Here, we characterized mouse uPAR isoform 2 (msuPAR2), encoding domain I and nearly one-half of domain II, as a dimer in solution, as revealed by 3D electron microscopy structural analysis. In vivo, msuPAR2 transgenic mice exhibited signs of severe renal disease characteristic of FSGS with proteinuria, loss of kidney function, and glomerulosclerosis. Sequencing of the glomerular RNAs from msuPAR2-Tg mice revealed a differentially expressed gene signature that includes upregulation of the suPAR receptor Itgb3, encoding β3 integrin. Crossing msuPAR2-transgenic mice with 3 different integrin β3 deficiency models rescued msuPAR2-mediated kidney function. Further analyses indicated a central role for β3 integrin and c-Src in msuPAR2 signaling and in human FSGS kidney biopsies. Administration of Src inhibitors reduced proteinuria in msuPAR2-transgenic mice. In conclusion, msuPAR2 may play an important role in certain forms of scarring kidney disease.

Authors

Changli Wei, Jing Li, Brian D. Adair, Ke Zhu, Jian Cai, Michael Merchant, Beata Samelko, Zhongji Liao, Kwi Hye Koh, Nicholas J. Tardi, Ranadheer R. Dande, Shuangxin Liu, Jianchao Ma, Salvatore Dibartolo, Stefan Hägele, Vasil Peev, Salim S. Hayek, David J. Cimbaluk, Melissa Tracy, Jon Klein, Sanja Sever, Sanford J. Shattil, M. Amin Arnaout, Jochen Reiser

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Figure 8

Glomerular c-Src activity is increased in human FSGS kidney.

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Glomerular c-Src activity is increased in human FSGS kidney. Immunofluor...
Immunofluorescent staining with p–c-Src antibody was performed for the frozen sections of deidentified human kidney biopsies. Synaptopodin was used as a podocyte marker. Shown is a representative of 4 batches of immunostaining. While a minimal amount of c-Src phosphorylation was observed in the glomeruli of healthy donors (n = 3), glomerular p–c-Src intensity was increased in 6 out of 10 FSGS patients. Overlap of p–c-Src (green) and synpo (red ) indicates that p–c-Src was localized in podocytes. Of note, only 11 out of 24 observed glomeruli were positive for p–c-Src, from which 64% were focal, 36% globally but not evenly. In contrast, the increase of pSrc was not observed in other glomerular diseases, including SLE (n = 2), MPGN (n = 2), and MCD (n = 4). Scale bar: 20 μm. NT, normal kidney tissue.