Objective Development of proteinuria in lupus nephritis (LN) is associated with podocyte dysfunction. The NLRP3 inflammasome has been implicated in the pathogenesis of LN. This study investigates whether NLRP3 inflammasome activation is involved in the development of podocyte injury in LN. Methods A fluorescence-labeled caspase-1 inhibitor probe was used to detect the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in podocytes in lupus-prone NZM2328 mice and in renal biopsies from LN patients. MCC950, a selective inhibitor of NLRP3, was used to treat NZM2328 mice. Proteinuria, ultrastructure of podocytes and renal pathology were evaluated. In vitro, sera from diseased NZM2328 mice were used to stimulate a podocyte cell line and cells were subjected to flow cytometry analysis. Results NLRP3 inflammasomes were activated in podocytes of lupus-prone mice and LN patients. Inhibition of NLRP3 with MCC950 ameliorated proteinuria, renal histological lesions and podocyte foot process effacement in lupus-prone mice. In vitro, sera from NZM2328 diseased mice activated NLRP3 inflammasomes in the podocyte cell line through reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Conclusion NLRP3 inflammasomes were activated in podocytes of both LN patients and in lupus-prone mice. Activation of NLRP3 is involved in the pathogenesis of podocyte injuries and the development of proteinuria in LN.

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The relationship between peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) Pro12Ala gene polymorphism and type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) risk in Asians is still unclear. This study was performed to evaluate if there was an association between the PPARγ Pro12Ala gene polymorphism and T2DN risk in Asians using meta-analysis. The relevant reports were searched and identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library and CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) on 1 October 2013, and eligible studies were included and synthesized. Ten reports were recruited into this meta-analysis for the association of the PPARγ Pro12Ala gene polymorphism with T2DN risk. The Pro12Ala gene polymorphism in the Asian population was shown to be not associated with T2DN risk (Ala/Ala: OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.22-2.00, p = 0.47; Pro/Pro: OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 0.82-1.65, p = 0.39; Ala allele: OR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.47-1.16, p = 0.19). In the sensitivity analysis according to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), the control source from hospital, the control source from population, the genotyping methods using PCR-RFLP, the genotyping methods using Taqman, sample size of case (≥ 100), the association of the PPARγ Pro12Ala gene polymorphism with T2DN risk was also not found. Interestingly, in the sensitivity analysis according to sample size of case (<100), Ala allele was associated with T2DN risk, but not the Pro/Pro genotype. However, the sample size for sensitivity analysis according to sample size of case (<100) was relatively small and therefore, the results should be interpreted with care. In conclusion, the PPARγ Pro12Ala gene polymorphism was not associated with T2DN risk in Asians. However, Ala allele was associated with T2DN risk when the sample size of case was less than 100. Nonetheless, additional studies are required to firmly establish a correlation between the PPARγ Pro12Ala gene polymorphism and T2DN risk in Asians.