Macrophage polarization in chronic kidney disease: a balancing act between renal recovery or decline?

Macrophage polarization in chronic kidney disease: a balancing act between renal recovery or decline? Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2019 Sep 30;: Authors: Engel JE, Chade AR Abstract Macrophages are heterogenous cells of the innate immune system that can fluidly modulate their phenotype to respond to their local microenvironment. They are found throughout the renal compartments where they contribute to homeostasis and function. However, renal injury activates molecular pathways that initially stimulate differentiation of macrophages into a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype. Later in the course of healing, abundant apoptotic debris and anti-inflammatory cytokines induce production of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages which contribute to tissue regeneration and repair. Thus, the dynamic balance of M1 and M2 populations may outline the burden of inflammation and the process of tissue repair that define renal outcomes, which has been the impetus for therapeutic efforts targeting macrophages. This mini-review will discuss the role of these phenotypes in the progression of chronic renal injury, potential pathogenic mechanisms, and the promise of macrophage-based therapeutic applications for chronic kidney disease. PMID: 31566432 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Renal Physiology - Category: Physiology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Source Type: research