TREM-2 mediates dendritic cell–induced NO to suppress Th17 activation and ameliorate chronic kidney diseases

Abstract

<p>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health issue. CKD is caused by the infiltration of various myeloid cell types into renal tissue, resulting in renal fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) surgery in mice is a model of CKD and characterized by high expression of the anti-inflammatory receptor, Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM-2), on myeloid cells in affected kidneys. Here, we show that iNOS expression and nitric oxide (NO) induction were decreased in <em>Trem-2</em>^−/− bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) and in <em>Trem-2</em> knockdown DC2.4 cells stimulated in vitro with LPS. The nitration of RORγt was decreased in T cells co-cultured with LPS-stimulated <em>Trem-2</em>^−/− BMDCs, enhancing IL-17 production. UUO-treated <em>Trem-2</em>^−/− mice displayed aggravated renal pathogenesis accompanied by greater neutrophil infiltration and enhanced Th17 cells differentiation, phenotypes that could be rescued by the administration of L-arginine (a biological precursor of NO). Our data identify a key mechanism underlying TREM-2-mediated NO to modulate the cellular crosstalk between dendritic cells, Th17, and neutrophils. Furthermore, we also reveal TREM-2 as a potential novel target for the development of anti-inflammatory drugs in CKD treatment.</p>