Exosomes secreted by ATF3/Nrf2-mediated ferroptotic renal tubular epithelial cells promote M1/M2 ratio imbalance inducing renal interstitial fibrosis following ischemia and reperfusion injury

Background Severe renal ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI) progresses to renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) with limited therapeutic strategies. Although ferrptosis and macrophage polarization both play important roles in this model, their specific pathogenesis and interactions have not been elucidated. Therefore, we aimed to explore the mechanisms by which ferrotosis occurs in renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs) and ferroptotic cell-derived exosomes induce macrophage polarization in IRI-related RIF model. Methods In vivo , C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: sham group, ischemia and reperfusion (IR) group, IR + Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1) group, and IR +ATF3 knockdown (ATF KD ) group. In vitro , RTECs were divided into control (CON) group, hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR) group, HR +Fer-1 group, HR + siRNA-ATF3 (siATF3) group. Result Compared with the sham group, the IR group showed more severe kidney injury in HE staining, more collagen fibers in Masson staining, and higher α-SMA expression levels in immunohistochemistry. Total iron and MDA content increased while GSH content decreased. The IR group had more significant mitochondrial damage and higher PTGS2 and TFRC mRNA levels than those in the sham group. Compared with the IR group, the above indexes were all alleviated in the IR+Fer-1 or IR+ATF3 KD groups. In addition, the protein expressions of ATF3, Nrf2 and HO-1 in the IR group were increased than those in sham group. Compared with the IR group, ATF3 expressions in the IR+Fer-1 or IR+ATF3 KD groups were decreased, and the protein contents of Nrf2 and HO-1 were further increased. Moreover, there were higher levels of M2 markers (Arg1, TGF-β and IL-10 mRNA) in the IR group than those in the sham group, and lower levels in the IR+Fer-1 group or in the IR+ATF3 KD group compared with the IR group. The results of in vitro experiment are consistent with those of in vivo experiment. Mechanistically, the release of exosomes carrying miR-1306-5p by the HR group promoted more M2 macrophage. Conclusion ATF3 might accelerate the ferroptosis by inhibiting Nrf2/ARE pathway, and exosomes from ferroptotic cells reduced the M1/M2 macrophage ratio, promoting fibrosis.