Complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR deposits accelerate the progression of advanced IgA nephropathy to end-stage renal disease.

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is still one of the leading causes of end-stage kidney disease (ESRD), and complement system activation is a key to the pathogenesis of IgAN. The role of complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR in late stage of IgAN remains unknown. Renal specimens of 75 IgAN patients at the stage 4 CKD were stained using immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and death. Associations of complement components with baseline clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes were assessed using multivariable Cox regression and Spearman analyses. During a median follow-up of 15.0 months, 27 patients progressed to ESRD and none died. Lower eGFR [hazards ratio (HR), 0.827, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.732-0.935; P = 0.002] and glomerular C3 deposition (HR, 3.179, 95% CI, 1.079-9.363; P = 0.036) were predictive of time to ESRD in stage 4 CKD IgAN. Higher expression of C3a (P = 0.010), C3aR (P = 0.005), C5a (P = 0.015), and C5aR (P < 0.001) was identified in ESRD group than in non-ESRD group. Glomerular C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR deposits were both correlated with a lower baseline eGFR, higher baseline 24 h-urinary protein (24 h-UP) and faster decline of eGFR. Besides, C3a and C5a deposits were found in patients with high S (S1) and T (T1/2) scores, respectively. Complement C3a/C3aR and C5a/C5aR in IgAN patients with stage 4 CKD may portend a faster deterioration of kidney function.

Complement C5a/C5aR pathway potentiates the pathogenesis of gastric cancer by down-regulating p21 expression.

Although the complement C5a/C5aR pathway is suggested to play a critical role in tumor pathogenesis, the underlying mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. In the present study, we found that in patients with gastric cancer in different clinical stages (from stageⅠto stage Ⅳ), both C5aR and p-PI3K/AKT levels were significantly higher in tumoral tissues than in adjacent non-tumoral tissues. In contrast, p21/p-p21 levels were significantly lower in tumoral tissues than in adjacent non-tumoral tissues. In vitro recombinant C5a administration remarkably promoted p-PI3K/p-AKT expression, but inhibited p21/p-p21 expression. Blockage of C5a/C5aR signaling with a C5aR antagonist reversed the C5a-induced inhibitory effect on p21/p-p21 expression. C5a administration to cells pre-treated with a PI3K inhibitor also prevented this inhibitory effect, suggesting the involvement of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in C5a/C5aR-mediated suppression of p21/p-p21 expression. In vivo C5aR antagonist treatment caused significant reduction in tumor growth in mice, accompanied by a remarkable elevation in p21/p-p21 expression and reduction in p-PI3K/AKT activation. These results indicate that the C5a/C5aR pathway promotes gastric cancer pathogenesis by suppressing p21/p-p21 expression via activation of PI3K/AKT signaling.

Effect of Complement C5a/C5aR pathway on autophagy induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury / 中华器官移植杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of autophagy and the effect of complement C5a/C5aR pathway on autophagy induced by renal ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI).Methods MaleWT and C5aR gene knockout (BALB/C background) mice were selected.The model of renal IRI was established by occluding bilateral renal pedicles with microaneurysm clamps.Mice were divided into wild type BALB/C (WT) group and C5aR gene knock out (C5aRKO) group.The pathology of kidney was assessed by HE staining.The levels of BUN and KIM-1 were detected 24 h after reperfusion.The expression of the autophagy-associated protein (LC3 Ⅱ/LC3 Ⅰ and P62) was measured by Western blotting and immunofluorescence.In vitro,human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK2) were cultured.The expression of LC3 in HK2 cells was investigated by immunofluorescence and Western blotting after being treated with recombinant C5a or C5a combined with C5aR antagonist (C5aRA).Results As compared with WT group,the severity of kidney injury was obviously reduced in C5aRKO group (P＜0.05).After ischemia-reperfusion,the expression of autophagy-related protein LC3 gradually increased with the reperfusion time prolonged.The level of autophagy induced by ischemia-reperfusion was significantly reduced in C5aRKO group as compared with WT group (P＜0.05).In addition,the expression of autophagy-related protein LC3 Ⅱ in HK2 cells was increased with the augment of C5a stimulation concentration in vitro.Blockage of C5aR pathway by C5aRA led to a significant decrease in autophagy (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Complement C5a/C5aR pathway promotes renal IRI-induced autophagy.