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Abstract: PO0372

Renal NG2-Expressing Cells Have Phagocytic Activity and Facilitate Renal Recovery After Ischemic Injury

Session Information

Category: Acute Kidney Injury

  • 103 AKI: Mechanisms

Authors

  • Nakano, Daisuke, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Kagawa, Japan
  • Kittikulsuth, Wararat, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Kagawa, Japan
  • Nishiyama, Akira, Kagawa University, Kagawa, Kagawa, Japan
Background

Pericytes play an important role in the recovery process after ischemic injury of many tissues. Brain pericytes in the peri-infarct area express macrophage markers in response to injury stimuli and are involved in neovascularization. In the kidney, nerve/glial antigen 2 (NG2)+ pericytes have been found to accumulate after renal injury. However, the role of accumulated NG2+ cells in injured kidneys remains unknown.

Methods

A reversible ischemic reperfusion model, we found that renal NG2+ cells were increased in injured kidneys and expressed macrophage markers (CD11b or F4/80) on day 3 after reperfusion.

Results

Isolated NG2+ cells from ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) kidneys also had phagocytic activity and expressed anti-inflammatory cytokine genes, including mannose receptor and IL-10. These macrophage-like NG2+ cells did not likely differentiate into myofibroblasts because they did not increase α-SMA expression. Intravenous transfusion of renal NG2+ cells isolated from donor mice on day 3 after reperfusion into recipient mice on day 1 after I/R surgery revealed that NG2+ cell-injected mice had lower plasma blood urea nitrogen, reduced KIM-1 mRNA expression, ameliorated renal damage, and reduced cellular debris accumulation than PBS-injected mice on day 5 after reperfusion.

Conclusion

In conclusion, these data suggest that renal NG2+ cells have an M2 macrophage-like ability and play a novel role in facilitating the recovery process after renal I/R injury.

Funding

  • Government Support – Non-U.S.