Exosomes derived from TREM-2 knocked-out macrophages alleviated renal fibrosis via HSPa1b/AKT pathway

Renal fibrosis is a common pathological feature of CKD, resulting in irreversible loss of function and structure. However, effective therapies for CKD are currently limited. We found that the deletion of TREM-2 in macrophages increased the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio in exosomes, shifting toward the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the alleviation of renal fibrosis. Furthermore, polyclonal antibodies against TREM-2 effectively suppressed renal fibrosis. These findings provide evidence that TREM-2 is a potential therapeutic target for CKD.