Selective blockade of BAFF for the prevention and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis in NZM2410 mice

Arthritis Rheum. 2010 May;62(5):1457-68. doi: 10.1002/art.27368.

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether BAFF or combined BAFF/APRIL blockade is effective in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis characterized by rapidly progressive glomerulosclerosis.

Methods: NZM2410 mice at early and late stages of SLE nephritis were treated with a short course of BAFF-R-Ig or TACI-Ig fusion protein. Proteinuria and serologic profile were evaluated every 2 weeks. Immunohistochemical, flow cytometric, and enzyme-linked immunospot analyses of the spleen, kidney, and bone marrow were performed after 8 weeks and after 33 weeks.

Results: A short course of selective blockade of BAFF alone was sufficient to prevent and treat SLE nephritis in NZM2410 mice, despite the formation of pathogenic autoantibodies. Decreases in spleen size and B cell depletion persisted for more than 33 weeks after treatment and resulted in secondary decreases in CD4 memory T cell formation and activation of splenic and peripheral monocytes. Immune complex deposition in the kidneys was dissociated from renal damage and from activation of renal endothelial and resident dendritic cells.

Conclusion: Selective blockade of BAFF alone, which resulted in B cell depletion and splenic collapse, was sufficient to prevent and treat the disease in this model of noninflammatory SLE nephritis. This shows that the inflammatory microenvironment may be a determinant of the outcome of B cell modulation strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Antibodies / pharmacology*
  • B-Cell Activating Factor / genetics
  • B-Cell Activating Factor / immunology*
  • B-Cell Activating Factor / metabolism
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • DNA / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / immunology
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Lupus Nephritis / drug therapy*
  • Lupus Nephritis / physiopathology
  • Lupus Nephritis / prevention & control*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred NZB
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Phenotype
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Remission Induction
  • Spleen / cytology
  • Spleen / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • B-Cell Activating Factor
  • Immunoglobulin M
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tnfsf13b protein, mouse
  • DNA