HMGB1 protein promotes glomerular mesangial matrix deposition via TLR2 in lupus nephritis

Abstract Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Patients with LN mostly die of sclerosing glomerulonephritis and renal failure. The inhibition of glomerular mesangial matrix deposition is an efficient method to restrict the progress of renal injury. By recognizing and binding extracellular and intracellular ligands, Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) contributes to the pathogenesis of most immune diseases. However, the relationship between TLR2 and LN is still unknown. Our previous studies confirmed that high‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), an important ligand of TLR2, promotes the progression of LN by inducing the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells. However, whether or not HMGB1 participates in the pathogenesis of glomerular mesangial matrix deposition in LN remains unknown. In this study, we observed the upregulated expression of TLR2 in the glomeruli of LN patients and MRL/lpr mice. The inhibition of either TLR2 or HMGB1 inhibited the release of fibronectin and the activation of the MyD88/NF‐κB pathway in mesangial cells cultured with LN plasma. In addition, both TLR2‐ and HMGB1‐deficient mice showed reduced 24 hr urine protein levels and improved glomerular histological changes and sclerosis levels. These results indicate that TLR2 regulates glomerular mesangial matrix deposition in LN through the activation of the MyD88/NF‐κB pathway by binding to HMGB1.