Elevated expressions of GRP78/CHOP in lupus nephritis: their diagnostic value and association with PERK/IRE1α pathway-mediated renal cell apoptosis.
10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2025.10.01
- Author:
Yihan WANG
1
;
Weiqing ZHANG
2
;
Ting FANG
2
;
Zhimin XIE
1
;
Yongsheng FAN
1
;
Xinchang WANG
1
Author Information
1. Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310015, China.
2. Second Clinical School of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
CHOP;
GRP78;
PERK/IRE1α;
apoptosis;
endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway;
lupus nephritis
- MeSH:
Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP;
Lupus Nephritis/blood*;
Transcription Factor CHOP/blood*;
Heat-Shock Proteins/blood*;
Animals;
Apoptosis;
Humans;
Mice;
Mice, Inbred MRL lpr;
Female;
Adult;
Endoribonucleases/metabolism*;
Male;
eIF-2 Kinase/metabolism*;
Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism*;
Young Adult;
Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress;
Kidney/metabolism*;
Middle Aged;
Signal Transduction
- From:
Journal of Southern Medical University
2025;45(10):2055-2061
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVES:To examine the changes in serum levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) proteins GRP78/CHOP in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) and analyze their diagnostic value and association with renal pathological features.
METHODS:From a sample bank established based on a multicenter cohort study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 60 LN patients and 35 SLE patients without renal involvement were randomly selected. ELISA was used to detect serum levels of GRP78 and CHOP in the patients to analyze their correlation with clinical features and their diagnostic ability for LN and active LN. MRL/lpr mice were used as an animal model of LN to examine their serum levels of GRP78 and CHOP expression and renal expressions of endoplasmic reticulum apoptosis-related proteins.
RESULTS:Serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were significantly higher in LN patients than in SLE patients without renal involvement (P<0.05), and were also higher in active LN patients than in patients in the stable phase (P<0.05). Correlation analysis indicated that serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were positively correlated with SLEDAI scores and 24-h urinary protein. ROC analysis showed that CHOP had a high diagnostic ability for LN (AUC=0.762) and active LN (AUC=0.933). Consistent with the clinical findings, serum GRP78 and CHOP levels were elevated in LN mice, and the expressions of PERK and IRE1α pathway proteins were also increased in the kidneys of the mice. TUNEL staining showed increased renal cell apoptosis and elevated renal expressions of apoptosis-related proteins in LN mice.
CONCLUSIONS:Serum levels of GRP78/CHOP are increased in LN patients possibly in association with ERS-induced apoptosis mediated by the PERK/IRE1α dual pathway.
