| First Author | Masuda T | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Am J Pathol | Volume | 187 |
| Issue | 4 | Pages | 740-751 |
| PubMed ID | 28183532 | Mgi Jnum | J:241140 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5897914 | Doi | 10.1016/j.ajpath.2016.12.006 |
| Citation | Masuda T, et al. (2017) Growth Factor Midkine Promotes T-Cell Activation through Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cells Signaling and Th1 Cell Differentiation in Lupus Nephritis. Am J Pathol 187(4):740-751 |
| abstractText | Activated T cells play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including lupus nephritis (LN). The activation of calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and STAT4 signaling is essential for T cells to perform various effector functions. Here, we identified the growth factor midkine (MK; gene name, Mdk) as a novel regulator in the pathogenesis of 2,6,10,14-tetramethylpentadecane-induced LN via activation of NFAT and IL-12/STAT4 signaling. Wild-type (Mdk+/+) mice showed more severe glomerular injury than MK-deficient (Mdk-/-) mice, as demonstrated by mesangial hypercellularity and matrix expansion, and glomerular capillary loops with immune-complex deposition. Compared with Mdk-/- mice, the frequency of splenic CD69+ T cells and T helper (Th) 1 cells, but not of regulatory T cells, was augmented in Mdk+/+ mice in proportion to LN disease activity, and was accompanied by skewed cytokine production. MK expression was also enhanced in activated CD4+ T cells in vivo and in vitro. MK induced activated CD4+ T cells expressing CD69 through nuclear activation of NFAT transcription and selectively increased in vitro differentiation of naive CD4+ T cells into Th1 cells by promoting IL-12/STAT4 signaling. These results suggest that MK serves an indispensable role in the NFAT-regulated activation of CD4+ T cells and Th1 cell differentiation, eventually leading to the exacerbation of LN. |
