Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy

ABSTRACT Background The precise mechanisms responsible for renal injury in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are not fully understood. Our study employed an extensive scRNA‐seq analysis of kidney biopsies obtained from individuals with IgAN, with a specific emphasis on investigating the involvement of renal en...

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Main Authors: Yong‐Chang Yang, Lin Zhu, Jing‐Ying Zhao, Bo Zhang, Xiao‐Meng Wang, Wai W. Cheung, Cheng‐Guang Zhao, Ping Zhou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.70149
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author Yong‐Chang Yang
Lin Zhu
Jing‐Ying Zhao
Bo Zhang
Xiao‐Meng Wang
Wai W. Cheung
Cheng‐Guang Zhao
Ping Zhou
author_facet Yong‐Chang Yang
Lin Zhu
Jing‐Ying Zhao
Bo Zhang
Xiao‐Meng Wang
Wai W. Cheung
Cheng‐Guang Zhao
Ping Zhou
author_sort Yong‐Chang Yang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Background The precise mechanisms responsible for renal injury in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are not fully understood. Our study employed an extensive scRNA‐seq analysis of kidney biopsies obtained from individuals with IgAN, with a specific emphasis on investigating the involvement of renal endothelial cells. Methods We obtained data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and conducted bioinformatics analysis, which included enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, AUCell analysis, and high‐dimensional weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (hdWGCNA). The results of these analyses were further validated using human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs). Results The ScRNA‐seq data uncovered notable variations in gene expression between IgAN and control kidney tissues. The enrichment analysis using AUCell demonstrated a high presence of adhesion molecules and components related to the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway within the renal endothelial cells. Furthermore, through hdWGCNA analysis, it was discovered that interleukin (IL)‐6, Rac1, and cadherin exhibited associations with the renal endothelial cells. Stimulation of HRGECs with IL‐6/IL‐6 receptor resulted in a significant reduction in VE‐cad expression while inhibiting Rac1 led to a substantial decrease in Rac1‐GTP levels and an increase in VE‐cad expression. Conclusion This study presents novel findings regarding the contribution of renal endothelial cells to the development of IgAN, as it demonstrates that IL‐6 negatively regulates VE‐cad expression in HRGECs via Rac1. These results highlight the significant involvement of renal endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of IgAN.
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spelling doaj-art-c0e55ea549a4486ab1eddc6fb2e148142025-08-20T03:04:54ZengWileyImmunity, Inflammation and Disease2050-45272025-02-01132n/an/a10.1002/iid3.70149Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA NephropathyYong‐Chang Yang0Lin Zhu1Jing‐Ying Zhao2Bo Zhang3Xiao‐Meng Wang4Wai W. Cheung5Cheng‐Guang Zhao6Ping Zhou7Department of Pediatrics Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang ChinaDepartment of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology Sichuan Provincial Women's and Children's Hospital/The Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical College Chengdu ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang ChinaDepartment of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology Sichuan Provincial Women's and Children's Hospital/The Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical College Chengdu ChinaDivision of Pediatric Nephrology, Rady Children's Hospital University of California San Diego California USADepartment of Pediatrics Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang ChinaDepartment of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology Sichuan Provincial Women's and Children's Hospital/The Affiliated Women's and Children's Hospital of Chengdu Medical College Chengdu ChinaABSTRACT Background The precise mechanisms responsible for renal injury in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are not fully understood. Our study employed an extensive scRNA‐seq analysis of kidney biopsies obtained from individuals with IgAN, with a specific emphasis on investigating the involvement of renal endothelial cells. Methods We obtained data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and conducted bioinformatics analysis, which included enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, AUCell analysis, and high‐dimensional weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (hdWGCNA). The results of these analyses were further validated using human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs). Results The ScRNA‐seq data uncovered notable variations in gene expression between IgAN and control kidney tissues. The enrichment analysis using AUCell demonstrated a high presence of adhesion molecules and components related to the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway within the renal endothelial cells. Furthermore, through hdWGCNA analysis, it was discovered that interleukin (IL)‐6, Rac1, and cadherin exhibited associations with the renal endothelial cells. Stimulation of HRGECs with IL‐6/IL‐6 receptor resulted in a significant reduction in VE‐cad expression while inhibiting Rac1 led to a substantial decrease in Rac1‐GTP levels and an increase in VE‐cad expression. Conclusion This study presents novel findings regarding the contribution of renal endothelial cells to the development of IgAN, as it demonstrates that IL‐6 negatively regulates VE‐cad expression in HRGECs via Rac1. These results highlight the significant involvement of renal endothelial cells in the pathogenesis of IgAN.https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.70149endothelial cellIgA nephropathyIL‐6Rac1scRNA‐seqVE‐cadherin
spellingShingle Yong‐Chang Yang
Lin Zhu
Jing‐Ying Zhao
Bo Zhang
Xiao‐Meng Wang
Wai W. Cheung
Cheng‐Guang Zhao
Ping Zhou
Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
Immunity, Inflammation and Disease
endothelial cell
IgA nephropathy
IL‐6
Rac1
scRNA‐seq
VE‐cadherin
title Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
title_full Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
title_fullStr Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
title_full_unstemmed Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
title_short Single‐Cell Analysis of Endothelial Cell Injury in IgA Nephropathy
title_sort single cell analysis of endothelial cell injury in iga nephropathy
topic endothelial cell
IgA nephropathy
IL‐6
Rac1
scRNA‐seq
VE‐cadherin
url https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.70149
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