Cross reactive renal antigens for pathogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies in lupus nephritis

Auto-antibodies are serological hallmarks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with anti-ds (double stranded) DNA antibodies being characteristic of lupus nephritis (LN). Anti-dsDNA Abs can be found deposited in the kidney; however the cross-reactive renal target antigens for these antibodies have not been conclusively identified. In identifying the in-vivo renal antigens for anti-dsDNA Abs, we found that pathogenic anti-dsDNA antibodies as well as immunoglobulin eluted from kidneys of nephritic lupus mice cross-react with alpha-actinin. Furthermore, there was enhanced binding to alpha-actinin derived from lupus prone MRL-lpr/lpr mouse mesangial cells (MCs) as compared with non-autoimmune BALB/c MCs due to alpha-actinin 4 being expressed at significantly higher levels in the MRL-lpr/lpr MCs. We also found novel sequence polymorphisms between MRL- lpr/lpr and BALB/c alpha-actinin 4. To determine if antibodies generated against alpha-actinin in vivo can cross-react with nuclear antigens, we immunized BALB/c mice with alpha-actinin. Immunized, but not control mice displayed high titers of anti-nuclear antibodies and IgG anti-chromatin autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia, renal immunoglobulin deposition and proteinuria. The specificity of the anti-chromatin response as determined by Western and proteomic analysis, was a 25 kDa protein doublet, conclusively identified as High Mobility Group Box Proteins (HMGB 1 & 3), and a 70 kDa protein identified as heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), both of which are known antigenic targets in murine lupus. Importantly, a panel of pathogenic monoclonal autoantibodies had significantly higher affinity for alpha-actinin, chromatin, HMGB and HSP70 as compared to non-pathogenic antibodies, suggesting a common motif within these antigens that is targeted by pathogenic antibodies. Our studies indicate that alpha-actinin's differential expression and sequence motifs make it a target of pathogenic autoantibodies. Moreover, Abs to alpha-actinin may be used as a biomarker of active LN.