New data implicate podocyte NLRP3 inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis (LN). These inflammasomes were activated in biopsy samples from patients with LN and in lupus-prone NZM2328 mice. In the mice, NLRP3 inhibition reduced proteinuria, renal histological lesions and podocyte foot-process effacement. Sera from diseased NZM2328 mice activated NLRP3 inflammasomes in cultured podocytes via a mechanism involving production of reactive oxygen species. These findings are consistent with a role of NLRP3 activation in podocyte injury and the development of proteinuria in LN.
References
Fu, R. et al. Podocyte activation of NLRP3 inflammasome contributes to the development of proteinuria in lupus nephritis. Arthritis Rheum. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/art.40155 (2017)
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Carney, E. Role of NLRP3 inflammasomes in podocyte injury. Nat Rev Nephrol 13, 444 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2017.91
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2017.91