Acyloxyacyl hydrolase protects against kidney injury via inhibition of tubular CD74-macrophage crosstalk

ABSTRACT: Renal fibrosis is the common pathway in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Acyloxyacyl hydrolase (AOAH) is expressed in various phagocytes and highly expressed in proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs). Research shows that AOAH plays a critical role in infections and chronic inflammatory diseases, although its role in kidney injury is unknown. Here, AOAH expression was examined in human and mouse kidneys, and Aoah-/- mice and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) were performed to determine its role in kidney injury induced by folic acid (FA). We found that AOAH expression was positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) while negatively correlated with the degree of renal fibrosis in kidneys of CKD patients. AOAH deletion led to exacerbated kidney injury and fibrosis after FA administration, which was reversed by overexpression of Aoah in kidneys. scRNA-seq revealed that Aoah-/- mice exhibited increased subpopulation of CD74+ PTECs, even though total PTECs were decreased compared to WT mice after FA treatment. Finally, exacerbated kidney injury and fibrosis seen in Aoah-/- mice was attenuated via administration of ISO-1, an inhibitor of macrophage inhibition factor (MIF) and CD74 binding. Thus, our work indicates that AOAH protects against kidney injury and fibrosis by inhibiting renal tubular epithelial cells CD74 signaling pathways. Targeting kidney AOAH represents a promising strategy to prevent renal fibrosis progression.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE234090 | GEO | 2023/12/01

REPOSITORIES: GEO