Role of IgM and angiotensin II Type I receptor autoantibodies in local complement activation in placental ischemia-induced hypertension in the rat

Jean F. Regal, Megan E. Strehlke, Jenna M. Peterson, Cameron R. Wing, Jordan E. Parker, Noel Fernando Nieto, Lynne T. Bemis, Jeffrey S. Gilbert, Sherry D. Fleming

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Preeclampsia is characterized by development of hypertension during pregnancy and reduced placental perfusion. Previous studies in a rat model of placental ischemia-induced hypertension demonstrated that inhibiting complement activation attenuated increased maternal blood pressure with C3a and C5a identified as the important products of complement activation. Given that in other forms of ischemia both natural IgM and antigen antibody complexes initiate complement activation, we hypothesized that placental ischemia exposes neoepitopes recognized by IgM to cause local complement activation and hypertension. Alternatively, we postulated that autoantibody to angiotensin II Type 1 receptor (AT1-AA) interacts with AT1 receptors to cause complement activation. Since complement activation occurs in kidney and placenta in preeclampsia, we used immunohistochemistry to determine IgM deposition and local complement activation in each organ (C3 deposition), and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to quantitate mRNA for endogenous regulators of complement activation CD55, CD59 and Complement receptor 1-related gene/protein y (Crry). On gestation day (GD)14.5, timed pregnant Sprague Dawley rats underwent Sham surgery or placement of clips on inferior abdominal aorta and ovarian arteries to create placental ischemia using the reduced utero-placental perfusion pressure (RUPP) model. As previously reported, RUPP surgery increased mean arterial pressure and circulating C3a on GD19.5. In placenta, IgM and C3 deposition increased, whereas mRNA for complement regulators Crry and CD59 decreased along with Crry protein in RUPP compared to Sham treated animals. In kidney, IgM deposition increased in animals subjected to RUPP vs Sham surgery without a significant change in C3 deposition and coincident with an increase in mRNA for CD55 and CD59. The AT1 receptor antagonist losartan prevents placental ischemia-induced hypertension as well as AT1-AA interaction with AT1 receptors. However, losartan did not attenuate complement activation as measured by circulating C3a or placental C3 deposition. Importantly, our studies indicate that following placental ischemia, complement activation is not due to AT1-AA but is associated with IgM deposition. These studies suggest a role for natural antibodies interacting with placental ischemia-induced neoepitopes to activate complement and contribute to hypertension.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)38-47
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular Immunology
Volume78
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors acknowledge the excellent technical assistance of Barbara Elmquist, Jon Opacich, and Jacob Wilcox. This work was supported by NIH R15 HL109843 (JFR, JSG, SDF).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

  • Autoantibody
  • C3 deposition
  • Complement
  • Natural antibody
  • Preeclampsia
  • Pregnancy-induced hypertension

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