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Glomerular disease

Role of tonsillar B cells in IgAN

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 13, page 63 (2017)Cite this article

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In Japan, patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) frequently undergo tonsillectomy, which has been associated with a decrease in serum IgA levels and an improvement in clinical outcomes. However, the rationale for this treatment is unclear. Now, researcher Yusuke Suzuki and colleagues report that overexpression of A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) by tonsillar germinal centre B cells might have a key role in the pathogenesis of this disease.

Previous studies have shown that increased serum levels of APRIL are associated with worse prognosis in patients with IgAN, and have also suggested a role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in the development of this disease. In their recent study, Suzuki and colleagues found that expression of APRIL was increased, and correlated with increased expression of TLR9, in the tonsillar germinal centres of patients with IgAN compared with those of patients with chronic tonsillitis. In addition, TLR9 stimulation induced APRIL expression on tonsillar germinal centre B cells from patients with tonsillitis.

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References

  1. Muto, M. et al. Toll-like receptor 9 simulation induces aberrant expression of a proliferation-inducing ligand by tonsillar germinal center B cells in IgA nephropathy. J. Am. Soc. Nephrol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2016050496 (2016)

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  1. Ellen F. Carney
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Carney, E. Role of tonsillar B cells in IgAN. Nat Rev Nephrol 13, 63 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2016.185

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2016.185

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