Kidney Week

Abstract: SA-PO0879

Nicotine and High-Salt Diet Coexposure Dysregulates the Kidney Immune Microenvironment and Impairs Vascular Endothelial Function

Session Information

• Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism
  October 24, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
  Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Category: Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

• 1500 Health Maintenance, Nutrition, and Metabolism

Authors

• Jang, Yoonjoo, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Yoonjoo Jang, MD

• Lee, Kyungho, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Kyungho Lee, MD, PhD

• Cho, Yoon Jung, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Yoon Jung Cho, MD

• Gu, Juyeon, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Juyeon Gu, MD

• Jeon, Junseok, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Junseok Jeon, MD, PhD

• Lee, Jung eun, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Jung eun Lee, MD, PhD

• Huh, Wooseong, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Wooseong Huh, MD, PhD

• Jang, Hye Ryoun, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of)

Hye Ryoun Jang, MD, PhD

Background

Smoking and excess dietary salt are independent risk factors for chronic kidney disease and frequently co-occur in clinical populations. However, their combined effects on the kidney immune microenvironment and vascular endothelium remain poorly defined. We investigated the immunological and endothelial consequences of concurrent nicotine and high-salt exposure using in vivo and in vitro models.

Methods

Mice were divided into four groups based on nicotine exposure and high-salt diet, and euthanized at 2 and 4 weeks; additional groups underwent 4-week nicotine exposure followed by 2-week cessation or continuous exposure. Nicotine was administered via intraperitoneal injection. Kidney mononuclear cells were isolated and studied by flow cytometry. Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells (iPSC-ECs) were treated with nicotine (50 or 100 µM) or high-salt conditions (165 mM NaCl) under normoxia or hypoxia to assess proliferation, tube formation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation.

Results

A high-salt diet alone increased renal macrophage infiltration at 2 weeks compared with controls. Combined nicotine and high-salt diet exposure reduced regulatory CD4+ T cells at 2 weeks and expanded CD4+ effector memory T cells at 4 weeks, alongside increased mature B cells and decreased IgM+IgD- B cells. Prolonged nicotine exposure (6 weeks) further increased B1-a cells and reduced naïve CD4+ T cells. 100 µM nicotine reduced the number of tube junctions and produced the largest mesh size in iPSC-ECs, indicating disrupted angiogenic maturation, compared with vehicle and 50 µM. High-salt conditions (165 mM NaCl) suppressed proliferation and elevated ROS under both normoxia and hypoxia through ionic rather than osmotic mechanisms.

Conclusion

Combined nicotine and high-salt exposure promotes renal immune dysregulation — characterized by accelerated B cell maturation, regulatory T cell depletion, and effector memory T cell expansion — together with impaired endothelial tube formation and elevated oxidative stress. These findings support concurrent smoking cessation and dietary salt restriction as a strategy for kidney disease prevention.