Elena Rampanelli*,Nike Claessen,Gwendoline JD Teske,Jaklien C Leemans,Sandrine Florquin
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) typically causes multiple-organ dysfunction/failure, including acute kidney injury (AKI). CD44 comprises a family of 85–200 kDa transmembrane glycoproteins that are widely expressed by multiple cell types and involved in a variety of inflammatory diseases. The multiple functions of CD44 have been attributed to the existence of numerous CD44 isoforms generated by alternative mRNA splicing as well as by extensive post-translational modifications. Renal CD44 expression is minimal in healthy adult kidneys, whereas in inflammatory renal disorders CD44 expression is markedly induced particularly in injured tubular epithelial cells (TEC) both in human diseases and in animal models. The function of CD44 on TEC remains unclear; previously we showed that the shortest isoform CD44 standard (CD44s) and the long CD44 variant 3-10 (CD44v3) exert opposite effects in fibrotic settings. To assess the contribution of tubular expression of CD44s and CD44v3 in SIRS-associated AKI, we used WT and unique transgenic mice expressing CD44s or CD44v3 specifically on proximal TEC. Mice were subjected to intraperitoneal injection of LPS and were sacrificed 4 and 24 hours later. The presence of CD44-isoforms in TEC did not alter the onset of kidney dysfunction or lymphocyte influx but affected the induction of KIM-1 and pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines after LPS injection. Transgenic kidneys expressing CD44s/CD44v3 displayed more KIM-1 expression, less TNF-α and IL-1β at 4 hours compared to WT kidneys. At 24 hours, CD44v3-expressing kidneys showed elevated IL-10 and TLR4 negative regulator mRNA levels. Proximal TEC-CD44 influenced the renal inflammatory milieu and TEC-CD44v3 associated with expression of antiinflammatory molecules.
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