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Fate Tracing Reveals the Pericyte and Not Epithelial Origin of Myofibroblasts in Kidney Fibrosis
Deficient Autophagy Results in Mitochondrial Dysfunction and FSGS
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Kidney Fibrosis
Anti-microRNA-21 Oligonucleotides Prevent Alport Nephropathy Progression by Stimulating Metabolic Pathways
LRP-6 is a Coreceptor for Multiple Fibrogenic Signaling Pathways in Pericytes and Myofibroblasts That are Inhibited by DKK-1
Dicer1 Activity in the Stromal Compartment Regulates Nephron Differentiation and Vascular Patterning During Mammalian Kidney Organogenesis

Lab Publications

Kidney-resident macrophages promote a proangiogenic environment in the normal and chronically ischemic mouse kidney.

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Kidney-resident macrophages promote a proangiogenic environment in the normal and chronically ischemic mouse kidney.

Sci Rep. 2018 09 17;8(1):13948

Authors: Puranik AS, Leaf IA, Jensen MA, Hedayat AF, Saad A, Kim KW, Saadalla AM, Woollard JR, Kashyap S, Textor SC, Grande JP, Lerman A, Simari RD, Randolph GJ, Duffield JS, Lerman LO

Abstract
Renal artery stenosis (RAS) caused by narrowing of arteries is characterized by microvascular damage. Macrophages are implicated in repair and injury, but the specific populations responsible for these divergent roles have not been identified. Here, we characterized murine kidney F4/80+CD64+ macrophages in three transcriptionally unique populations. Using fate-mapping and parabiosis studies, we demonstrate that CD11b/cint are long-lived kidney-resident (KRM) while CD11chiMϕ, CD11cloMϕ are monocyte-derived macrophages. In a murine model of RAS, KRM self-renewed, while CD11chiMϕ and CD11cloMϕ increased significantly, which was associated with loss of peritubular capillaries. Replacing the native KRM with monocyte-derived KRM using liposomal clodronate and bone marrow transplantation followed by RAS, amplified loss of peritubular capillaries. To further elucidate the nature of interactions between KRM and peritubular endothelial cells, we performed RNA-sequencing on flow-sorted macrophages from Sham and RAS kidneys. KRM showed a prominent activation pattern in RAS with significant enrichment in reparative pathways, like angiogenesis and wound healing. In culture, KRM increased proliferation of renal peritubular endothelial cells implying direct pro-angiogenic properties. Human homologs of KRM identified as CD11bintCD11cintCD68+ increased in post-stenotic kidney biopsies from RAS patients compared to healthy human kidneys, and inversely correlated to kidney function. Thus, KRM may play protective roles in stenotic kidney injury through expansion and upregulation of pro-angiogenic pathways.

PMID: 30224726 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]