Слайд 1Immunophysiology
of renal system
Слайд 10The kidneys purify toxic metabolic waste products from the blood in
several hundred thousand functionally independent units called nephrons. A nephron consists of one glomerulus and one double hairpin-shaped tubule that drains the filtrate into the renal pelvis. The glomeruli located in the kidney cortex are bordered by the Bowman's capsule. They are lined with parietal epithelial cells and contain the mesangium with many capillaries to filter the blood. The glomerular filtration barrier consists of endothelial cells, the glomerular basement membrane and visceral epithelial cells (also known as podocytes). All molecules below the molecular size of albumin (that is, 68 kDa) pass the filter and enter the tubule, which consists of the proximal convoluted tubule, the loop of Henle and the distal convoluted tubule. An intricate countercurrent (противоточная) system forms a high osmotic gradient in the renal medulla that concentrates the filtrate. The tubular epithelial cells reabsorb water, small proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates and electrolytes, thereby regulating plasma osmolality, extracellular volume, blood pressure and acid–base and electrolyte balance. Non-reabsorbed compounds pass from the tubular system into the collecting ducts to form urine. The space between the tubules is called the interstitium and contains most of the intrarenal immune system, which mainly consists of dendritic cells, but also of macrophages and fibroblasts.
Слайд 11
The kidneys produce several hormones that directly or indirectly affect
immune responses, including vitamin D, which regulates bone homeostasis and phagocyte function, erythropoietin, which is induced in response to hypoxia to regulate erythropoiesis, and renin, which induces angiotensin and aldosterone to regulate electrolyte balance, extracellular osmolarity and blood pressure.
Слайд 12Vitamin D regulates the innate and adaptive immune response to a
pathogenic challenge. Abbreviations: DC, dendritic cell; MØ, macrophage; TH, T-helper cell; TLR, Toll-like receptor; TREG, T regulatory cell.
Слайд 14Renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs) play an active role in renal
inflammation. Previous studies have demonstrated the capacity of TECs to modulate T-cell responses both positively and negatively. Recently, new costimulatory molecules [inducible T cell costimulator-L (ICOS-L) and B7- H1] have been described, which appear to be involved in peripheral T-cell activation. Interaction of tubular epithelial cells and kidney infiltrating T cells via ICOS-L and B7-H1 may change the balance of positive and negative signals to the T cells, leading to IL-10 production and limitation of local immune responses. Interaction of TECs with T cells favors interleukin (IL)-10 production and reduces interferon (IFN)-c production, indicating that TECs may alter the effector function of T cells in renal inflammation.
The TECs exert immunosuppressive effects on CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation and lead to enhanced T cell apoptosis. This would mean that, in the renal microenvironment, T cells in contact with the TEC barrier are exposed to more inactivation and death by TECs. Infiltrating T cells in the renal interstitial compartment will still be able to mount effective immune responses against alloantigens.
Moreover, TECs could also induce regulatory CD4+ T cells being able to inhibit the proliferation of other immune cells.
Parenchymal cells have been shown to exert their immunosuppressive effects in a cell–cell contact-dependent manner, as supernatant experiments did not reveal any inhibitory effect.
Слайд 15Proximal tubule epithelial cells (PTEC) of the kidney line the proximal
tubule downstream of the glomerulus and play a major role in the re-absorption of small molecular weight proteins that may pass through the glomerular filtration process. In the perturbed disease state PTEC also contribute to the inflammatory disease process via both positive and negative mechanisms via the production of inflammatory cytokines which chemo-attract leukocytes and the subsequent down-modulation of these cells to prevent uncontrolled inflammatory responses. It is well established that dendritic cells are responsible for the initiation and direction of adaptive immune responses. Both resident and infiltrating dendritic cells are localised within the tubulointerstitium of the renal cortex, in close apposition to PTEC, in inflammatory disease states. Primary human PTEC are able to modulate autologous DC phenotype and function via multiple complex pathways. The presence of autologous PTEC skew MoDC to become phenotypically less mature and functionally less stimulatory.
Слайд 17 Damaged tubule with infiltrating dendritic cells. b | In the early phase of acute
tubular necrosis, the injurious trigger induces necrosis and apoptosis via induction of oxidative stress. Dying tubular epithelial cells release DAMPs, which activate proinflammatory M1 macrophages. These macrophages secrete ROS and proinflammatory cytokines that stimulate necroptosis of tubular epithelial cells. The dying cells release chemokines, which recruit progenitor cells and leukocytes to the site of injury, and CXCL12 and TLR2 agonists, which activate the regenerative capacity of surviving tubular epithelial cells. Infiltrating CD4+ T cells, NKT cells, NK cells and B-1 cells contribute to tissue injury and inflammation, whereas TREG cells suppress innate immunity and promote regeneration. M1 macrophages can undergo a phenotypic switch to anti-inflammatory, proregenerative M2 macrophages. Autocrine effects of CSF1 induce local expansion of M2 macrophages. TLR4 agonists released by dying cells stimulate M2 macrophages to secrete mitogenic cytokines that accelerate tubule re-epithelialization. NLRP3 is a platform that integrates numerous danger signals. Notch ligands released by M2 macrophages and autocrine effects of other factors enhance tubular epithelial cell proliferation. E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase Mdm2 and mammalian target of rapamycin signalling also promote proliferation of tubular epithelial cells with regenerative potential.
Слайд 19Resident renal mononuclear phagocytes (rMoPh)
The ability of rMoPh to change
functions over time may be an important general property of the renal mononuclear phagocytic system. Classic examples of rMoPh plasticity include the maturation of renal DCs to educate T lymphocytes and the polarization of renal Mø to M1 or M2 functional phenotypes in response to environmental cues. More recent studies show that bone marrow-derived Mø or rMoPh display biphasic expression of proinflammatory factors followed by
anti-inflammatory and reparative factors in response to challenge with lipopolysaccharide or ischemic injury, respectively.
Слайд 20Apart from their role in the clearance of dying cells, fetal
macrophages play a trophic role in promoting organ growth and nephrogenesis in the developing kidney. During early mammalian development, primitive macrophages appear to arise from a different cellular origin distinct from the blood monocyte. These primitive fetal macrophages have a high proliferative capacity and are derived from PU.1-negative hematopoietic cells (PU.1 is a tissue-specific transcription factor that is expressed in cells of the hematopoietic lineage) that lack monocytic cell surface markers. Once permanent or definitive hematopoiesis is established, the proliferative capacity of the macrophage declines and a distinct set of phagocytes, the monocyte-macrophages, are formed.
The kidney has a remarkable ability to regenerate following acute injury. Most notably, the renal epithelia have the intrinsic capacity to rapidly self-duplicate.
Although the majority of regenerating tubular epithelial cells are derived from an intrarenal source, macrophages cells may contribute to the replacement of tubular epithelial cells through a process of cell fusion, as has been shown in the liver. Macrophages demonstrate cell plasticity and have the ability to undergo cell-cell fusion with themselves or other cell types, particularly in response to inflammatory stimuli. Mature blood monocytes and inflammatory macrophages have been shown to transform into vascular elements including endothelial cells, myofibroblasts, and smooth muscle cells in addition to neuronal and liver cells. It was discovered that cell fusion events occur between renal cells and macrophages or their highly proliferative progenitors.
Слайд 21The heterogeneous but overlapping phenotype and functions of renal DCs and
macrophages.
DCs are traditionally described as mediators of immune surveillance and antigen presentation, and as the primary determinants of responses to antigens—through initiation of either immune effector-cell functions or the development of tolerance. Macrophages also function as innate immune cells, predominantly through phagocytosis and production of toxic metabolites. However, the classical paradigm of DC versus macrophage phenotypes and functions is increasingly indistinct within the kidney, as these cells exhibit overlapping surface markers, functional capabilities, and ontogenic pathways. This molecular and phenotypic overlap between cell types and subsets complicates their identification and evaluation.
Renal DCs and macrophages are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous cells that regulate tissue responses to renal injury and disease. The considerable overlap between DCs and macrophages represents a continuum of phenotype, as well as plasticity of cells of the myeloid–monocytic lineage both in vivo and in vitro.
Under homeostatic conditions, the resident immune cells of the kidneys include dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, as well as a few lymphocytes. DCs are restricted to the tubulointerstitium and are absent from the glomeruli. Macrophages are preferentially found in the renal medulla and capsule and have homeostatic and repair functions.
Слайд 24Distinct and shared functions of macrophages and dendritic cells in the
kidney
Слайд 25‘Summary at a glance’: functions of DCs
1. Renal dendritic cells (rDCs)
have homeostatic roles, such as inducing immune tolerance against small innocuous antigens or cross-talk with tubular epithelial cells.
2. rDCs form an extensive surveillance network in the kidney
tubulointerstitium, alerting to infections/injury.
3. rDCs may exacerbate acute non-immune kidney injury (e.g., ischemia
reperfusion injury (IRI) or unilateral ureter obstruction (UUO)) by inducing harmful immune effector mechanisms.
4. rDCs have protective anti-inflammatory roles in acute GN, but may
acquire injurious pro-inflammatory properties in chronic renal
inflammation.
Слайд 26major challenges facing the field in the near future
1. Current definitions
of renal dendritic cells (rDCs) and macrophages overlap. Reach consensus on phenotype, functionality, and terminology.
2. Role of rDCs in homeostasis, in particular cross-talk with intrinsic kidney cells like tubular epithelial cells, needs to be clarified.
3. Role of rDCs in many diseases is unclear, such as pauci-immune GN and immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephritis, but also in prevalent non-immune-mediated diseases like diabetic or hypertensive kidney disease.
4. Define the molecular mechanisms causing rDC maturation and acquisition of pro-inflammatory phenotype, in order to allow the development of selective therapeutic strategies.
5. Align murine and human dendritic cell (DC) terminology, so that information on DC functions from experimental models can be extrapolated to kidney biopsy findings.
Слайд 27Significant progress in understanding the renal mononuclear phagocytic system has been
achieved over the past three decades. Many typical DC and Mø-associated functions of the major rMoPh subsets have been described, especially in the last 5 years. However, rMoPh may fulfill definitions and functions both of DCs and Mø, hampering definitive classification. Indeed, parallel streams of literature have been created that do not provide a fully integrated body of knowledge to this point.
Слайд 28Immune cells involved in renal tolerant recipients (DC, dendritic cells; NK,
natural killer cells; MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cells).