Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease with systemic complications mediated by immunecomplex formation. The elevated level of anti-phosphatidylserine (PS) IgG has been implicated in SLE pathogenesis. In this study, we
aimed to explore the effector mechanisms of PS immune-complex during lupus development.
Patients and Methods: Serological profiles of immune-complexes in SLE patients were analyzed. Immunofluorescence staining
showed PS-IgG immune-complex deposition in kidney biopsies of lupus nephritis patients. C57BL/6J mice were immunized with PS
for immune-complex and renal function assessment. The roles of PS-IgG immune-complex and lysyl oxidase (LOX) were validated... More
Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease with systemic complications mediated by immunecomplex formation. The elevated level of anti-phosphatidylserine (PS) IgG has been implicated in SLE pathogenesis. In this study, we
aimed to explore the effector mechanisms of PS immune-complex during lupus development.
Patients and Methods: Serological profiles of immune-complexes in SLE patients were analyzed. Immunofluorescence staining
showed PS-IgG immune-complex deposition in kidney biopsies of lupus nephritis patients. C57BL/6J mice were immunized with PS
for immune-complex and renal function assessment. The roles of PS-IgG immune-complex and lysyl oxidase (LOX) were validated
from SLE PBMCs, THP-1 cell line and PS-immunized lupus mice. The intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and
phagocytosis function were examined by flow cytometry in SLE PBMCs, THP-1 cell line and PS-immunized lupus mice. For in vitro
treatment, the effects of antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and LOX inhibitor β-Aminopropionitrile (BAPN) were verified in THP-1
cell line and cells from PS-immunized lupus mice.
Results: SLE and lupus nephritis (LN) patients showed significant elevated circulating and glomerular PS-IgG immune-complex
levels. ROC analysis indicated PS-IgG immune-complex as a strong biomarker in SLE and LN. Mechanistically, induced macrophages
from SLE patients treated with PS-IgG immune-complex significantly increased cytoplasmic ROS levels, elevated LOX expression
and exhibited dampened phagocytotic function. In mice, PS immunization triggered PS-IgG immune complex formation, increased
LOX expression, immune-complex deposited glomerular nephritis, and impaired phagocytotic function of macrophages. NAC and
BAPN treatment restored the phagocytotic function of human and murine macrophages.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that PS-IgG immune-complex can directly impair macrophage phagocytotic functions via LOX
mediated-oxidative stress and may serve as a novel biomarker for SLE.