Macrophages-Derived, LRG1-Enriched Extracellular Vesicles Exacerbate Aristolochic Acid Nephropathy Via A TGFβR1-Dependent Manner

Abstract

Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is a progressive kidney disease caused by some herbal medicines, but treatment remains ineffective. We previously found NADPH oxidases 4 (NOX4), which regulates oxidative stress, play an important role in kidney injury model. However, its regulatory mechanism of action in AAN is still obscure. In this study, we established AAN model in vivo, a co-culture system of macrophage and TEC, and macrophage/TEC conditioned media culture model in vitro respectively. We found macrophages infiltration promoted injury，oxidative stress and apoptosis of TEC. Furthermore, the role of macrophage in AAN was dependent on macrophages-derived EV. Importantly, we found that macrophages-derived, Leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein 1(LRG1)-enriched EV induced TEC injury and apoptosis of via a TGFβR1-dependent process. Mechanistically, macrophages-derived, LRG1-enriched EV mediating TECs injury by upregulating NOX4 in AAN model. This study may help design a better therapeutic strategy to treat AAN patients.