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Melkonian AL, Cheung MD, Erman EN, Moore KH, Lever JMP, Jiang Y, Yang Z, Lasseigne BN, Agarwal A, George JF. Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics reveal unique subpopulations of infiltrating macrophages and dendritic cells following AKI. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2025; 328:F907-F920. [PMID: 40331777 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00059.2025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2025] [Revised: 03/12/2025] [Accepted: 04/21/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025] Open
Abstract
Kidney infiltrating macrophages (KIMs) and kidney dendritic cells (KDCs) are strongly associated with inflammation and fibrosis in acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Contrary to kidney resident macrophages (KRMs), which are self-renewing and present in the kidney prior to injury, KIMs are bone-marrow derived F4/80int, CD11bhigh macrophages that infiltrate the kidney during AKI. Here, we combined single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), spatial transcriptomics, and cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes (CITE)-sequencing to elucidate temporal, spatial, and transcriptional characteristics of unique subpopulations of KIMs and KDCs in ischemia-induced AKI. scRNAseq revealed three KIM, two KDC, and one proliferative macrophage subpopulation. All six clusters were localized in unique, spatially constrained microenvironments and their locations were dynamically regulated following bilateral ischemia reperfusion injury. We showed that a specific Arginase 1-expressing KIM cluster infiltrates the kidney cortex at day 1 after ischemia. We also identified a macrophage subpopulation that expresses genes specific to cell proliferation that resides in the cortex in uninjured states and in the medulla at day 6 during the reparative phase of AKI. Gene ontology analysis revealed functional characteristics that distinguish each KIM and KDC population. By day 28 after ischemia, the transcriptional profiles of KIMs upregulate C1q, Cd81, and Cd74, markers normally limited to KRMs in quiescence and early AKI. Since KIMs and KDCs are profoundly involved in AKI, it is paramount that we understand their dynamics-temporally and spatially-and identify their key genes and surface protein markers to develop macrophage-specific therapeutics aimed toward targeting kidney disease.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this work, we fully characterized both single cell and spatial transcriptomes of kidney infiltrating macrophages (KIMs) and kidney dendritic cells (KDCs) following bilateral ischemia reperfusion injury. We also discovered distinct markers that differentiate KIMs from one another and kidney resident macrophages (KRMs). Finally, we show evidence suggesting that KIMs may reprogram and express genes previously limited to KRMs by day 28 following injury resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arin L Melkonian
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Matthew D Cheung
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Elise N Erman
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Kyle H Moore
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Jeremie M P Lever
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Yanlin Jiang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Zhengqin Yang
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Brittany N Lasseigne
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Anupam Agarwal
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - James F George
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
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Liu Z, Lv R, Guo H, Zhang B, Wang X, Qiang P, Xiong Y, Chang Y, Peng Y, Hao J, Wang X, Shimosawa T, Xu Q, Yang F. Proliferation of renal macrophage via MR/CSF1 pathway induced with aldosterone and inhibited by esaxerenone. Int Immunopharmacol 2025; 149:114208. [PMID: 39923576 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2025.114208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2025] [Revised: 01/30/2025] [Accepted: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 02/11/2025]
Abstract
Macrophage proliferation plays a critical role in kidney injury and repair, but due to their high plasticity and heterogeneity, the origins and subtypes of these proliferating cells remain unclear. This study investigates aldosterone-induced proliferation of renal macrophages, focusing on their origins, subtypes, and regulatory mechanisms using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and single-cell sequencing. The findings suggest that both resident and infiltrating macrophages proliferate in response to aldosterone, a significant proportion of which are renal resident macrophages, predominantly of the M1 subtype. The study also identifies the mineralocorticoid receptor/colony stimulation factor-1 (MR/CSF1) pathway as a key regulator of this process. Inhibition of this pathway through antagonists and inhibitors reduces macrophage proliferation and kidney damage, suggesting that targeting MR/CSF1 could be therapeutic against aldosterone-induced renal damage and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqian Liu
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Ruyan Lv
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Haixia Guo
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Panpan Qiang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Yunzhao Xiong
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Yi Chang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Yunsong Peng
- Nephrology Department, Shijiazhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Juan Hao
- Nephrology Department, Shijiazhuang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Xiangting Wang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China
| | - Tatsuo Shimosawa
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Narita 286-8686, Japan
| | - Qingyou Xu
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China.
| | - Fan Yang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China; Institute of Integrative Medicine, College of Integrative Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang 050200, China.
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3
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Merrild C, Pedersen GA, Antonsen KW, Madsen MG, Keller AK, Møller HJ, Nejsum LN, Mutsaers HAM, Nørregaard R. A human tissue-based model of renal inflammation. Exp Cell Res 2024; 443:114309. [PMID: 39476943 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2024.114309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2024] [Revised: 10/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/27/2024] [Indexed: 11/05/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation plays a key role in both the onset and progression of various kidney diseases. However, the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms by which inflammation drives kidney diseases from different etiologies remain to be elucidated. To enhance our understanding of these mechanisms, a reliable and translational human model of renal inflammation is needed. Here, we aim to establish such a model using human precision-cut kidney slices (PCKS). The PCKS were prepared from fresh, macroscopically healthy kidney tissue and cultured for 3h-48h with or without tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), or its inhibitor Etanercept. The ensuing inflammatory response in the slices was evaluated using both qPCR and a cytokine array. Furthermore, the presence of immune cells was visualized using immunofluorescent staining, and the activation potential of tissue-resident macrophages was examined with ELISA. We observed a culture-induced inflammatory response, reflected by increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes TNF, IL1B, CCL2, and IL6. This response could be partially inhibited by Etanercept, indicating that TNFα plays a role in the observed response. Moreover, we found that TNFα stimulation further increased the gene expression of TNF, IL1B, CCL2, and IL6, as well as the production of several chemokines and cytokines, including CXCL5, MCP1, MCP3, and IL-6. Lastly, we observed the presence of CD14- and HLA-DR-positive cells, as well as proliferating (CD68- and PCNA-positive) and activated macrophages in the slices during incubation. In conclusion, this study presents a novel human model for investigating renal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Merrild
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Gitte A Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kristian W Antonsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Mia G Madsen
- Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Anna K Keller
- Department of Urology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Holger J Møller
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark
| | - Lene N Nejsum
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Rikke Nørregaard
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Renal Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
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Herb M, Schatz V, Hadrian K, Hos D, Holoborodko B, Jantsch J, Brigo N. Macrophage variants in laboratory research: most are well done, but some are RAW. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1457323. [PMID: 39445217 PMCID: PMC11496307 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1457323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 10/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages play a pivotal role in the innate immune response. While their most characteristic function is phagocytosis, it is important not to solely characterize macrophages by this activity. Their crucial roles in body development, homeostasis, repair, and immune responses against pathogens necessitate a broader understanding. Macrophages exhibit remarkable plasticity, allowing them to modify their functional characteristics in response to the tissue microenvironment (tissue type, presence of pathogens or inflammation, and specific signals from neighboring cells) swiftly. While there is no single defined "macrophage" entity, there is a diverse array of macrophage types because macrophage ontogeny involves the differentiation of progenitor cells into tissue-resident macrophages, as well as the recruitment and differentiation of circulating monocytes in response to tissue-specific cues. In addition, macrophages continuously sense and respond to environmental cues and tissue conditions, adjusting their functional and metabolic states accordingly. Consequently, it is of paramount importance to comprehend the heterogeneous origins and functions of macrophages employed in in vitro studies, as each available in vitro macrophage model is associated with specific sets of strengths and limitations. This review centers its attention on a comprehensive comparison between immortalized mouse macrophage cell lines and primary mouse macrophages. It provides a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses inherent in these in vitro models. Finally, it explores the subtle distinctions between diverse macrophage cell lines, offering insights into numerous factors beyond the model type that can profoundly influence macrophage function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Herb
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Valentin Schatz
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Karina Hadrian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Deniz Hos
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Bohdan Holoborodko
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Regensburg and University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jonathan Jantsch
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Natascha Brigo
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
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5
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Zhu W, Qiong D, Changzhi X, Meiyu J, Hui L. Macrophage polarization regulation shed lights on immunotherapy for CaOx kidney stone disease. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 179:117336. [PMID: 39180792 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Kidney stone disease (KSD) is a major public health concern associated with high morbidity and recurrence, places a significant burden on the health care system worldwide. Calcium oxalate (CaOx) alone or a mixture of CaOx and calcium phosphate stones accounting for more than 80 % of cases. However, beyond surgical removal, the prevention and reduction of recurrence of CaOx kidney stones have always been a challenge. Given that macrophages are traditional innate immune cells that play critical roles in the clearance of pathogens and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis, which have gained more and more interests in nephrolithiasis. Several studies recently clearly demonstrated that M2-macrophage could reduce the renal calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal acumination, and provide premise insights and therapeutic options for KSD by modulating the macrophage phenotypes. However, the mechanism of macrophage-polarization regulation and that effects on kidney stone prevention and treatments are far from clear. Here, we comprehensively reviewed the literatures related to cytokines, epigenetic modifications and metabolic reprograming of macrophage in CaOx kidney stone disease, aimed to provide better understandings on macrophage polarization regulation as well as its potential clinical applications in CaOx kidney stone disease treatments and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zhu
- Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen 518109, Guangdong, China.
| | - Deng Qiong
- Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen 518109, Guangdong, China
| | - Xu Changzhi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin Meiyu
- Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen 518109, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Hui
- Department of Urology, The People's Hospital of Longhua, Shenzhen 518109, Guangdong, China.
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6
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Yang M, Lopez LN, Brewer M, Delgado R, Menshikh A, Clouthier K, Zhu Y, Vanichapol T, Yang H, Harris RC, Gewin L, Brooks CR, Davidson AJ, de Caestecker M. Inhibition of retinoic acid signaling in proximal tubular epithelial cells protects against acute kidney injury. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e173144. [PMID: 37698919 PMCID: PMC10619506 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.173144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signaling is essential for mammalian kidney development but, in the adult kidney, is restricted to occasional collecting duct epithelial cells. We now show that there is widespread reactivation of RAR signaling in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) in human sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) and in mouse models of AKI. Genetic inhibition of RAR signaling in PTECs protected against experimental AKI but was unexpectedly associated with increased expression of the PTEC injury marker Kim1. However, the protective effects of inhibiting PTEC RAR signaling were associated with increased Kim1-dependent apoptotic cell clearance, or efferocytosis, and this was associated with dedifferentiation, proliferation, and metabolic reprogramming of PTECs. These data demonstrate the functional role that reactivation of RAR signaling plays in regulating PTEC differentiation and function in human and experimental AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lauren N. Lopez
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Maya Brewer
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rachel Delgado
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anna Menshikh
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Kelly Clouthier
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yuantee Zhu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thitinee Vanichapol
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Haichun Yang
- Department of Pathology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Raymond C. Harris
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Leslie Gewin
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine and the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Craig R. Brooks
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Alan J. Davidson
- Department of Molecular Medicine & Pathology, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mark de Caestecker
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Fenton KA, Pedersen HL. Advanced methods and novel biomarkers in autoimmune diseases ‑ a review of the recent years progress in systemic lupus erythematosus. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1183535. [PMID: 37425332 PMCID: PMC10326284 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1183535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
There are several autoimmune and rheumatic diseases affecting different organs of the human body. Multiple sclerosis (MS) mainly affects brain, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) mainly affects joints, Type 1 diabetes (T1D) mainly affects pancreas, Sjogren's syndrome (SS) mainly affects salivary glands, while systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affects almost every organ of the body. Autoimmune diseases are characterized by production of autoantibodies, activation of immune cells, increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and activation of type I interferons. Despite improvements in treatments and diagnostic tools, the time it takes for the patients to be diagnosed is too long, and the main treatment for these diseases is still non-specific anti-inflammatory drugs. Thus, there is an urgent need for better biomarkers, as well as tailored, personalized treatment. This review focus on SLE and the organs affected in this disease. We have used the results from various rheumatic and autoimmune diseases and the organs involved with an aim to identify advanced methods and possible biomarkers to be utilized in the diagnosis of SLE, disease monitoring, and response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Andreassen Fenton
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Centre of Clinical Research and Education, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Hege Lynum Pedersen
- UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Centre of Clinical Research and Education, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Yang M, Lopez LN, Brewer M, Delgado R, Menshikh A, Clouthier K, Zhu Y, Vanichapol T, Yang H, Harris R, Gewin L, Brooks C, Davidson A, de Caestecker MP. Inhibition of Retinoic Acid Signaling in Proximal Tubular Epithelial cells Protects against Acute Kidney Injury by Enhancing Kim-1-dependent Efferocytosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.15.545113. [PMID: 37398101 PMCID: PMC10312711 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.15.545113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signaling is essential for mammalian kidney development, but in the adult kidney is restricted to occasional collecting duct epithelial cells. We now show there is widespread reactivation of RAR signaling in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) in human sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI), and in mouse models of AKI. Genetic inhibition of RAR signaling in PTECs protects against experimental AKI but is associated with increased expression of the PTEC injury marker, Kim-1. However, Kim-1 is also expressed by de-differentiated, proliferating PTECs, and protects against injury by increasing apoptotic cell clearance, or efferocytosis. We show that the protective effect of inhibiting PTEC RAR signaling is mediated by increased Kim-1 dependent efferocytosis, and that this is associated with de-differentiation, proliferation, and metabolic reprogramming of PTECs. These data demonstrate a novel functional role that reactivation of RAR signaling plays in regulating PTEC differentiation and function in human and experimental AKI. Graphical abstract
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