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. 2025 May 1;36(5):766-780.
doi: 10.1681/ASN.0000000577. Epub 2024 Dec 11.

Macrophage-Derived Type 1 IFN, Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Polyploidization, and AKI-to-CKD Transition

Yaqin Wang  1 , Qigang Lan  1 , Fugang Li  1 , Jiachuan Xiong  1 , Hailun Xie  2 , Shuiqin Gong  1 , Mengying Yao  1 , Liangjing Lv  1 , Shaozong Qin  1 , Wang Xin  1 , Aihong Zhang  1 , Siyan Zhou  1 , Yinghui Huang  1 , Jinghong Zhao  1
Affiliations

Macrophage-Derived Type 1 IFN, Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Polyploidization, and AKI-to-CKD Transition

Yaqin Wang et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. .

Abstract

Key Points:

  1. Macrophage-derived IFN-β contributes to tubular epithelial cell polyploidization after AKI.

  2. IFN-β induced tubular epithelial cell polyploidization by regulating inorganic pyrophosphatase-mediated yes-associated protein (YAP) dephosphorylation.

  3. Delayed blockade of the IFN-β response attenuated persistent polyploidization and kidney fibrosis.

Background: AKI is recognized as a common risk factor of CKD. Renal tubular epithelial cell polyploidization after AKI is closely associated with maladaptive repair, while the regulatory and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we set out to investigate the mechanism of tubular epithelial cell polyploidization and their role in AKI-to-CKD transition.

Methods: The change characters of polyploid tubular epithelial cells and macrophages after AKI were detected by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. The underlying mechanism was explored by RNA-sequencing analysis, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. The role of tubular epithelial cell polyploidization in AKI-to-CKD transition was evaluated by transgenic mice and drug interventions.

Results: We discovered that tubular epithelial cells underwent polyploidization after AKI, and polyploid tubular epithelial cells exhibited greater fibrotic phenotypes than nonpolyploid cells. Furthermore, we revealed an upregulated IFN-β response feature within tubular epithelial cells after AKI and identified that macrophage-derived IFN-β bound to IFN-I receptor 1 of tubular epithelial cells and induced their polyploidization. Mechanistically, IFN-β, secreted by macrophages through activation of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-AMP synthase-stimulator of IFN genes pathway, acted on tubular epithelial cells and facilitated inorganic pyrophosphatase binding to yes-associated protein (YAP), which mediated YAP dephosphorylation and subsequent nuclear translocation, culminating in p21 expression and polyploidization. Importantly, delayed blockade of the IFN-β response and pharmacological inhibition of stimulator of IFN genes or YAP activation on day 4 after AKI significantly attenuated persistent tubular epithelial cell polyploidization and AKI-induced kidney fibrosis.

Conclusions: Macrophage-derived IFN-β contributed to tubular epithelial cell polyploidization by regulating inorganic pyrophosphatase/YAP signaling pathway–mediated p21 expression and further promoted AKI-to-CKD transition.

Keywords: AKI; CKD; chemokine; macrophages; renal tubular epithelial cells.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure forms, as provided by each author, are available with the online version of the article at http://links.lww.com/JSN/E997.

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