Negative Modulation of B Cell Activation by Melanocortin 1 Receptor Signaling Protects against Membranous Nephropathy.

ABSTRACT:

Significance statement

Emerging evidence suggests that melanocortin neuropeptides-specifically adrenocorticotropic hormone-offer a novel, steroidogenic-independent therapeutic modality for membranous nephropathy (MN). The molecular mechanism underlying this beneficial effect, however, remains largely elusive. To investigate whether melanocortins modulate humoral immunity, the authors induced passive Heymann nephritis, a model of human MN, in wild-type and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) knockout rats and treated them with melanocortin agents. Additional rats received adoptive transfer of bone marrow-derived cells beforehand from wild-type or MC1R knockout rats. The findings indicate that MC1R signaling plays a key role in negative modulation of B-cell activation and thereby suppress

SUBMITTER: Chen B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10103281 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature