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Integrin β1–rich extracellular vesicles of kidney recruit Fn1+ macrophages to aggravate ischemia-reperfusion–induced inflammation
Wenjuan Wang, Xuejing Ren, Xiangmei Chen, Quan Hong, Guangyan Cai
Wenjuan Wang, Xuejing Ren, Xiangmei Chen, Quan Hong, Guangyan Cai
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Research Article Nephrology

Integrin β1–rich extracellular vesicles of kidney recruit Fn1+ macrophages to aggravate ischemia-reperfusion–induced inflammation

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Abstract

Ischemia-reperfusion injury–induced (IRI-induced) acute kidney injury is accompanied by mononuclear phagocyte (MP) invasion and inflammation. However, systematic analysis of extracellular vesicle–carried (EV-carried) proteins mediating intercellular crosstalk in the IRI microenvironment is still lacking. Multiomics analysis combining single-cell RNA-Seq data of kidney and protein profiling of kidney-EV was used to elucidate the intercellular communication between proximal tubular cells (PTs) and MP. Targeted adhesion and migration of various MPs were caused by the secretion of multiple chemokines as well as integrin β1–rich EV by ischemic-damaged PTs after IRI. These recruited MPs, especially Fn1+ macrophagocyte, amplified the surviving PT’s inflammatory response by secreting the inflammatory factors TNF-α, MCP-1, and thrombospondin 1 (THBS-1), which could interact with integrin β1 to promote more MP adhesion and interact with surviving PT to further promote the secretion of IL-1β. However, GW4869 reduced MP infiltration and maintained a moderate inflammatory level likely by blocking EV secretion. Our findings establish the molecular bases by which chemokines and kidney-EV mediate PT-MP crosstalk in early IRI and provide insights into systematic intercellular communication.

Authors

Wenjuan Wang, Xuejing Ren, Xiangmei Chen, Quan Hong, Guangyan Cai

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Figure 1

Renal response to IRI at 1 day.

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Renal response to IRI at 1 day.
(A) Biochemical detection of representat...
(A) Biochemical detection of representative renal function indicators (serum creatinine [Scr] and urea nitrogen [BUN]). (B) Periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) staining. (C) Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) scores. (D) H&E staining showing that the immune cells were characterized by blue nuclear staining and a pink-to-peach cytoplasm. (E) Immunofluorescence staining of IL-17a (red). (F) TUNEL (green) staining. (G) Immunohistochemical staining of renal proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA, brown). n = 6. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD. Student’s t test was used for comparisons of 2 groups. **P < 0.01. Scale bars: 50 μm (B and G), 100 μm (D), and 20 μm (E and F).

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