The Role of Hyaluronan and CD44 in the Pathogenesis of Lupus Nephritis

Figure 2

Schematic diagram showing the effect of ERM activation on T-cell function in SLE patients. Autoantibodies such as anti-CD3/T-cell receptor (TCR) antibodies bind to CD3/TCR complex in circulating T cells and induce ROCK activation, which in turn mediates ERM phosphorylation. Once activated, ERM directly interacts with CD44 and F actin resulting in their colocalization at the polar caps of T cells, leading to actin polymerization, T-cell polarization, adhesion to the endothelium and subsequent chemotactic migration to sites of injury in the kidney.