ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

  • Meetings
    • ACR Convergence 2024
    • ACR Convergence 2023
    • 2023 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • ACR Convergence 2022
    • ACR Convergence 2021
    • ACR Convergence 2020
    • 2020 ACR/ARP PRSYM
    • 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting
    • 2018-2009 Meetings
    • Download Abstracts
  • Keyword Index
  • Advanced Search
  • Your Favorites
    • Favorites
    • Login
    • View and print all favorites
    • Clear all your favorites
  • ACR Meetings

Abstract Number: 2500

Podocyte Injury in Membranous and Proliferative Lupus Nephritis: Distinct Underlying Mechanisms?

Gabriela M. Rezende1, Vilma S. T. Viana1, Denise M. Malheiros2, Elaine P. Leon3, Eduardo F. Borba1, Neila AS Silva2, Irene L. Noronha4, Cleonice Silva4 and Eloisa Bonfá5, 1Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 2Division of AnatomoPathology - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 3Rheumatology, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 4Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology - Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, 5Division of Rheumatology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Meeting: 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Keywords: Biomarkers, lupus nephritis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
Session Information

Title: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Human Etiology and Pathogenesis II

Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)

Background/Purpose:

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with proteinuria being the predominant common manifestation and may therefore reflect podocyte injury. Podocytes are highly specialized cells that have a relevant role in the glomerular filtration barrier and alteration in the expression of their biomarkers has been shown to be associated with podocyte dysfunction in some glomerulopathies.

A systematic analysis of podocyte-associated molecules encompassing different subcellular compartments was performed in a large series of LN biopsies. Expression of Wilms´ tumor protein (WT1), Synaptopodin (Synpo) and glomerular epithelial protein 1 (GLEPP1) with nuclear, cytoplasmic and membrane distribution respectively, were evaluated attempting to identify if podocyte phenotype is distinct in proliferative and membranous nephritis. Possible association of molecular expression alterations with long term proteinuria severity and outcome in lupus was also investigated.

Methods:

Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed using monoclonal antibodies to WT1, Synpo  and GLEPP1 proteins in 52 biopsies from patients with lupus nephritis fulfilling the revised ACR criteria for SLE. Demographic, clinical and laboratorial data at the time of biopsy were analyzed.  

Results:

Thirty-nine (75%) biopsies were classified as proliferative LN and thirteen (25%) as pure membranous class V. Immunohistochemistry analysis in normal kidney revealed preserved staining of WT1, Synpo and GLEPP1 podocyte biomarkers along the capillary walls. Preserved and concomitant WT1 and Synpo staining was observed in a significant higher frequency in pure class V biopsies than in proliferative LN (69.23 vs. 2.56%, p<0.0001). Likewise, preserved GLEPP1 expression was also more frequent in pure class V LN (53.85 vs. 2.86%, p=0.0002). Proteinuria and serum albumin levels at the time of biopsy did not statistically differ in the two groups (p=0.87 and p=0.41) whereas in the mean long-term follow-up of four years a tendency of lower proteinuria (p=0.050) was observed in those patients with biopsies expressing preserved WT1/Synpo staining.

Conclusion:

This is the first study comparing proliferative and membranous lupus nephritis which evaluated simultaneously the expression of proteins in different subcellular podocyte compartments and provided novel evidence of preserved podocyte structural architecture predominantly in membranous lesions which may account for a better long term outcome of patients with this LN histological class. These findings suggest possible different underlying mechanisms for proteinuria in both conditions.


Disclosure:

G. M. Rezende,
None;

V. S. T. Viana,
None;

D. M. Malheiros,
None;

E. P. Leon,
None;

E. F. Borba,
None;

N. A. Silva,
None;

I. L. Noronha,
None;

C. Silva,
None;

E. Bonfá,
None.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/podocyte-injury-in-membranous-and-proliferative-lupus-nephritis-distinct-underlying-mechanisms/

Advanced Search

Your Favorites

You can save and print a list of your favorite abstracts during your browser session by clicking the “Favorite” button at the bottom of any abstract. View your favorites »

All abstracts accepted to ACR Convergence are under media embargo once the ACR has notified presenters of their abstract’s acceptance. They may be presented at other meetings or published as manuscripts after this time but should not be discussed in non-scholarly venues or outlets. The following embargo policies are strictly enforced by the ACR.

Accepted abstracts are made available to the public online in advance of the meeting and are published in a special online supplement of our scientific journal, Arthritis & Rheumatology. Information contained in those abstracts may not be released until the abstracts appear online. In an exception to the media embargo, academic institutions, private organizations, and companies with products whose value may be influenced by information contained in an abstract may issue a press release to coincide with the availability of an ACR abstract on the ACR website. However, the ACR continues to require that information that goes beyond that contained in the abstract (e.g., discussion of the abstract done as part of editorial news coverage) is under media embargo until 10:00 AM ET on November 14, 2024. Journalists with access to embargoed information cannot release articles or editorial news coverage before this time. Editorial news coverage is considered original articles/videos developed by employed journalists to report facts, commentary, and subject matter expert quotes in a narrative form using a variety of sources (e.g., research, announcements, press releases, events, etc.).

Violation of this policy may result in the abstract being withdrawn from the meeting and other measures deemed appropriate. Authors are responsible for notifying colleagues, institutions, communications firms, and all other stakeholders related to the development or promotion of the abstract about this policy. If you have questions about the ACR abstract embargo policy, please contact ACR abstracts staff at [email protected].

Wiley

  • Online Journal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Permissions Policies
  • Cookie Preferences

© Copyright 2025 American College of Rheumatology