Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC/CCL21)/CCR7 signaling regulates fibrocytes in renal fibrosis

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC/CCL21)/CCR7 signaling regulates fibrocytes in renal fibrosis
Creators Name:	Sakai, N. and Wada, T. and Yokoyama, H. and Lipp, M. and Ueha, S. and Matsushima, K. and Kaneko, S.
Abstract:	Fibrocytes are a distinct population of bloodborne cells that share markers of leukocytes as well as mesenchymal cells. We hypothesized that CCR7-positive fibrocytes migrate into the kidney in response to secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC/CCL21) and contribute to renal fibrosis. To investigate this hypothesis, renal fibrosis was induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in mice. A considerable number of fibrocytes dual-positive for CD45 and type I collagen (ColI) or CD34 and ColI infiltrated the interstitium, reaching a peak on day 7. Most fibrocytes were positive for CCR7, and CCL21/CCR7 blockade reduced the number of infiltrating fibrocytes. CCL21 and MECA79 dual-positive vessels were also detected in the interstitium. The blockade of CCL21/CCR7 signaling by anti-CCL21 antibodies reduced renal fibrosis, which was confirmed by a decrease in fibrosis in CCR7-null mice with concomitant reduction in renal transcripts of pro alpha1 chain of ColI and TGF-beta1. The number of F4/80-positive macrophages decreased along with renal transcripts of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1/CCL2) after the blockade of CCL21/CCR7 signaling. These findings suggest that CCR7-positive fibrocytes infiltrate the kidney via CCL21-positive vessels, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. Thus, the CCL21/CCR7 signaling of fibrocytes may provide therapeutic targets for combating renal fibrosis.
Keywords:	Kidney, CD45, Animals, Mice
Source:	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
ISSN:	0027-8424
Publisher:	National Academy of Sciences
Volume:	103
Number:	38
Page Range:	14098-14103
Date:	19 September 2006
Official Publication:	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0511200103
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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