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  • Title: Factor H-Related Protein 1 Drives Disease Susceptibility and Prognosis in C3 Glomerulopathy.
    Author: Márquez-Tirado B, Gutiérrez-Tenorio J, Tortajada A, Lucientes Continente L, Caravaca-Fontán F, Malik TH, Roldán Montero R, Elías S, Saiz Gonzalez A, Fernández-Juarez G, Sánchez-Corral P, Pickering MC, Praga M, Rodríguez de Córdoba S, Goicoechea de Jorge E.
    Journal: J Am Soc Nephrol; 2022 Jun; 33(6):1137-1153. PubMed ID: 35545301.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a heterogeneous group of chronic renal diseases characterized predominantly by glomerular C3 deposition and complement dysregulation. Mutations in factor H-related (FHR) proteins resulting in duplicated dimerization domains are prototypical of C3G, although the underlying pathogenic mechanism is unclear. METHODS: Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we performed extensive characterization of an FHR-1 mutant with a duplicated dimerization domain. To assess the FHR-1 mutant's association with disease susceptibility and renal prognosis, we also analyzed CFHR1 copy number variations and FHR-1 plasma levels in two Spanish C3G cohorts and in a control population. RESULTS: Duplication of the dimerization domain conferred FHR-1 with an increased capacity to interact with C3-opsonized surfaces, which resulted in an excessive activation of the alternative pathway. This activation does not involve C3b binding competition with factor H. These findings support a scenario in which mutant FHR-1 binds to C3-activated fragments and recruits native C3 and C3b; this leads to formation of alternative pathway C3 convertases, which increases deposition of C3b molecules, overcoming FH regulation. This suggests that a balanced FHR-1/FH ratio is crucial to control complement amplification on opsonized surfaces. Consistent with this conceptual framework, we show that the genetic deficiency of FHR-1 or decreased FHR-1 in plasma confers protection against developing C3G and associates with better renal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings explain how FHR-1 mutants with duplicated dimerization domains result in predisposition to C3G. They also provide a pathogenic mechanism that may be shared by other diseases, such as IgA nephropathy or age-related macular degeneration, and identify FHR-1 as a potential novel therapeutic target in C3G.
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