Neutrophil Extracellular Traps protein composition is specific for patients with Lupus nephritis and includes methyl-oxidized αenolase (methionine sulfoxide 93)

Sci Rep. 2019 May 28;9(1):7934. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-44379-w.

Abstract

NETs constitute a network of DNA and proteins released by neutrophils in response to infectious and immunologic triggers. NET proteins are recognized as autoantigens in ANCA vasculitis; limited knowledge is available in other autoimmune pathologies. The composition of NETs produced ex vivo by resting and Phorbol-myristate acetate (PMA) stimulated neutrophils was analyzed by high-throughput Fusion Orbitrap technology in 16 patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus/Lupus nephritis (9 SLE/7 LN) and in 11 controls. Seven-hundred proteins were characterized and specific fingerprints discriminated LN from SLE. We focused on methyl-oxidized αenolase (methionine sulfoxide 93) that was markedly increased in NETs from LN and was localized in NET filaments in tight connection and outlying DNA. The isotype of anti-αenolase antibodies was IgG2 in LN and IgG4 in other autoimmune glomerulonephritis (Membranous Nephropathy, MN); serum anti-αenolase IgG2 were higher in LN than in SLE and absent in MN. The same IgG2 antibodies recognized 5 epitopes of the protein one containing methionine sulphoxide 93. In conclusion, specific NET protein fingerprints characterize different subsets of SLE; methyl-oxidized αenolase is over-expressed in LN. Circulating anti-αenolase IgG2 recognize the oxidized epitope and are high in serum of LN patients. Post-translational modified NET proteins contribute to autoimmunity in patients with LN.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / immunology
  • Extracellular Traps / chemistry*
  • Extracellular Traps / immunology
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / blood
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / immunology
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lupus Nephritis / blood
  • Lupus Nephritis / immunology
  • Lupus Nephritis / pathology*
  • Methionine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Methionine / analysis
  • Methionine / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Molecular
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / analysis*
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / immunology
  • Protein Interaction Maps
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / analysis*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / immunology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Methionine
  • ENO1 protein, human
  • Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
  • methionine sulfoxide