Treatment of C3 glomerulopathy with complement blockers.

C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a newly defined clinical entity comprising glomerular lesions with predominant C3 staining. Under this definition are now included membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type II (dense deposit disease) and C3 glomerulonephritis. This group of glomerular diseases with a heterogeneous histological aspect shares a common pathogenesis, that is, a dysregulation of the alternative pathway of complement in the fluid phase leading to C3 deposition in the kidney. Recent advances have expanded our understanding of the underlying mechanisms, leading to the hypothesis that blocking the alternative complement pathway may be an effective treatment for C3Gs, as has been shown in other renal diseases driven by alternative pathway dysregulation, such as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. Results of 11 published cases of patients with different forms of C3G treated with eculizumab, an anti-C5 humanized monoclonal antibody, are encouraging. Given the complexity of disease pathogenesis in C3G, a patient-tailored approach including a comprehensive workup of complement abnormalities is necessary to evaluate the best treatment options. Clinical trials assessing effectiveness of different complement blockers on the background of the individual complement profile are needed.

Nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitors as potential novel anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of immune glomerulonephritis.

Nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B regulates several genes implicated in the inflammatory response and represents an interesting therapeutic target. We examined the effects of gliotoxin (a fungal metabolite) and parthenolide (a plant extract), which possess anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, on the progression of experimental glomerulonephritis. In the anti-Thy 1.1 rat model, gliotoxin (75 micro g/rat/day, 10 days, n = 18 rats) markedly reduced proteinuria, glomerular lesions, and monocyte infiltration. In anti-mesangial cell nephritis in mice, parthenolide (70 micro g/mouse/day, 7 days, n = 17 mice) significantly decreased proteinuria, hematuria, and glomerular proliferation. NF-kappa B activity, localized in glomerular and tubular cells, was attenuated by either gliotoxin or parthenolide, in association with diminished renal expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase. In cultured mesangial cells and monocytes, gliotoxin and parthenolide inhibited NF-kappa B activation and expression of inflammatory genes induced by lipopolysaccharide and cytokines, by blocking the phosphorylation/degradation of the I kappa B(alpha) subunit. In summary, gliotoxin and parthenolide prevent proteinuria and renal lesions by inhibiting NF-kappa B activation and expression of regulated genes. This may represent a novel approach for the treatment of immune and inflammatory renal diseases.