Spatially microdissected profiling of tonsillar germinal centers reveals a KLRG1-enriched immune signature in IgA nephropathy - Report - MDSpire

Spatially microdissected profiling of tonsillar germinal centers reveals a KLRG1-enriched immune signature in IgA nephropathy

  • By

  • Mayuko Kawabe

  • Izumi Yamamoto

  • Yutaro Ohki

  • Ayaka Hayashi

  • Go Kanzaki

  • Kei Matsumoto

  • Hiroyuki Ueda

  • Keita Hirano

  • Nobuo Tsuboi

  • Takashi Yokoo

  • May 22, 2026

  • 0 min

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Clinical Report: Microdissection of Tonsillar Germinal Centers in IgA Nephropathy

Overview

This study identifies a KLRG1-enriched immune profile in the tonsillar germinal centers of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).

Background

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis and a significant cause of end-stage kidney disease. Understanding the immune architecture of the tonsillar germinal centers may provide insights into the pathogenesis of IgAN and its geographic variability in treatment responses. This study explores the molecular features of the tonsillar germinal center microenvironment in relation to IgAN.

Data Highlights

FindingValue
KLRG1 Fold Change3.2
p-value< 0.001

Key Findings

  • Identification of a GC-enriched immune signature in IgAN.
  • Upregulation of KLRG1 and ZBTB16 in IgAN tonsils.
  • Downregulation of CCL18, FADD, and TNFRSF17 in IgAN.
  • Immunohistochemistry showed GC-localized KLRG1 expression in cases with crescentic glomerular lesions.
  • Non-crescentic IgAN showed marginal GC localization of KLRG1.

Clinical Implications

The findings indicate that KLRG1 expression may be associated with glomerular injury severity in IgAN.

Conclusion

This exploratory study reveals a distinct KLRG1-enriched immune profile in the tonsillar germinal centers of IgAN patients.

Related Resources & Content

  1. KDIGO 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) and Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (IgAV)
  2. Blood Cancer Journal — Amyloid cast tubulopathy: a unique form of immunoglobulin-induced renal disease
  3. Acta Neuropathologica — Characterization of T cell signatures in myasthenia gravis through single-cell analysis
  4. Clinical Rheumatology — A Comprehensive Review of Potential Pharmacological Interventions for Nephritis in Pediatric Patients with IgA Vasculitis (HSP)
  5. Blood Cancer Journal — Comprehensive Immune Cell Analysis in Blood and Bone Marrow During Early Monoclonal Gammopathy: Findings from the iStopMM and ECRIN-M3 Collaborative Research
  6. KDIGO 2025 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN) and Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (IgAV)
  7. Iptacopan in IgA Nephropathy — Final 24-Month Data | New England Journal of Medicine
  8. Efficacy and safety of agents for IgA nephropathy: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials - PubMed

Original Source(s)

Spatially microdissected profiling of tonsillar germinal centers reveals a KLRG1-enriched immune signature in IgA nephropathy

  • by Mayuko Kawabe, Izumi Yamamoto, Yutaro Ohki, Ayaka Hayashi, Go Kanzaki, Kei Matsumoto, Hiroyuki Ueda, Keita Hirano, Nobuo Tsuboi, Takashi Yokoo

  • May 22, 2026

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