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Background and Aims The sympathetic nervous system regulates immune cell dynamics. However, the detailed role of sympathetic signaling in inflammatory diseases is still unclear because it varies according to the disease situation and responsible cell types. Here, we focused on sympathetic signaling in macrophages and sought to determine its detailed roles in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammation and renal ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Method In vitro, RAW 264.7 cells and murine peritoneal macrophages were used to determine the effects of β2 adrenergic receptor (Adrb2) signaling on LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α; TNF-α) production. We also identified the critical gene that mediates the anti-inflammatory effect of Adrb2 signaling by RNA-sequencing. In vivo, we examined the effects of salbutamol (a selective Adrb2 agonist) in LPS-induced systemic inflammation and renal IRI. The involvement of macrophage Adrb2 signaling was confirmed by macrophage-specific Adrb2 conditional knockout (cKO) mice and adoptive transfer of salbutamol-treated macrophages. We also performed single-cell RNA sequencing of renal tissue to analyze the renoprotective role of salbutamol-treated macrophages in detail. Results In vitro, norepinephrine, a sympathetic neurotransmitter, suppressed LPS-induced TNF-α production in macrophages. This anti-inflammatory effect was also induced by salbutamol and reversed by butoxamine (a selective Adrb2 antagonist) in a dose-dependent manner, indicating the importance of Adrb2 in this process. RNA sequencing of these macrophages revealed that T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-3 (Tim3) expressions were upregulated by the activation of Adrb2 signaling, which partially mediated the anti-inflammatory phenotypic alteration in macrophages. In vivo, salbutamol administration mitigated LPS-induced systemic inflammation and protected against renal IRI; this protection was mitigated in macrophage-specific Adrb2 cKO mice. Adoptive transfer of salbutamol-treated macrophages also protected against renal IRI (Figure 1). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that this protection was associated with the accumulation of Tim3-expressing macrophages in the renal tissue. Conclusion The activation of β2 adrenergic receptor signaling in macrophages induces anti-inflammatory phenotypic alterations partially via the induction of Tim3 expressions, which blocks LPS-induced systemic inflammation and protects against renal IRI.

Background. The present study has been undertaken to unravel the critical factors involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods. A unique type 2 diabetic rat model with a wide range of metabolic derangements and hypertension has been utilized, the spontaneously hypertensive/ NIH-corpulent rat SHR/NDmcr-cp(cp/cp). It develops histologically evident glomerular injury and tubulointerstitial damage, including mesangial activation, podocyte injury, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the tubulointerstitium. Results. A low calorie diet for 22 weeks significantly improves obesity, proteinuria and renal morphological alterations. The correction of renal injury is independent of blood pressure control. Obesity correction, although partial, normalizes the renal content of pentosidine taken as a marker of oxidative stress and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). This occurs despite the fact that, in this model, improvement of glucose control and hyperlipidaemia is limited. Proteinuria and body weight are highly correlated with renal pentosidine content, while proteinuria and body weight are also correlated with each other. Diabetic renal injury is thus inhibited by a low calorie diet with an attendant reduction of oxidative stress and AGE formation, despite sustained hypertension. Conclusion. The present findings suggest a direct role of obesity in the generation of a localized oxidative stress and AGE formation, directly responsible for DN.

We identified a novel gene, termed megsin, predominantly expressed in mesangial cells utilizing a 3'-directed regional cDNA library from cultured human mesangial cells. Megsin is a novel serine protease inhibitor (serpin), and the level of megsin RNA/protein expression is up-regulated in patients with IgA nephropathy or diabetic nephropathy, suggesting a link between megsin expression and the pathogenesis of mesangial expansion and/or proliferation. To assess the pathophysiological significance of megsin, we produced human megsin transgenic mice. Genetic manipulation of megsin engenders two elementary mesangial lesions, mesangial expansion and an increase in the number of mesangial cells.