Role of the CCL20/CCR6 axis in tubular epithelial cell injury: Kidney‐specific translational insights from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

• Published in: The FASEB journal 2024-01, Vol.38 (2), p.e23407-n/a
• Main Authors: Yoo, Kyung Don, Yu, Mi‐yeon, Kim, Kyu Hong, Lee, Seongmin, Park, EunHee, Kang, Seongmin, Lim, Doo‐Ho, Lee, Yeonhee, Song, Jeongin, Kown, Soie, Kim, Yong Chul, Kim, Dong Ki, Lee, Jong Soo, Kim, Yon Su, Yang, Seung Hee
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Kidney Injury; Animals; Chemokine CCL20 - genetics; chemokine ligand 20; chemokine receptor 6; chronic kidney disease; Epithelial Cells; Humans; Hypoxia; Kidney; Ligands; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Receptors, CCR6 - genetics; Renal Artery; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
• ISSN: 0892-6638; 1530-6860
• DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301069RR

This study investigated the role of the axis involving chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and its ligand chemokine (C–C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in acute kidney disease (AKD) using an ischemia–reperfusion injury (IRI) model. The model was established by clamping the unilateral renal artery pedicle of C57BL/6 mice for 30 min, followed by evaluation of CCL20/CCR6 expression at 4 weeks post‐IRI. In vitro studies were conducted to examine the effects of hypoxia and H2O2‐induced oxidative stress on CCL20/CCR6 expression in kidney tissues of patients with AKD and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Tubular epithelial cell apoptosis was more severe in C57BL/6 mice than in CCL20 antibody‐treated mice, and CCR6, NGAL mRNA, and IL‐8 levels were higher under hypoxic conditions. CCL20 blockade ameliorated apoptotic damage in a dose‐dependent manner under hypoxia and reactive oxygen species injury. CCR6 expression in IRI mice indicated that the disease severity was similar to that in patients with the AKD phenotype. Morphometry of CCL20/CCR6 expression revealed a higher likelihood of CCR6+ cell presence in CKD stage 3 patients than in stage 1–2 patients. Kidney tissues of patients with CKD frequently contained CCL20+ cells, which were positively correlated with interstitial inflammation. CCL20/CCR6 levels were increased in fibrotic kidneys at 4 and 8 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy. These findings suggest that modulating the CCL20/CCR6 pathway is a potential therapeutic strategy for managing the progression of AKD to CKD. This graphical illustrates our study's focus on the CCL20/CCR6 axis in acute kidney disease (AKD) progression. Using an ischemia–reperfusion injury model in mice, we found that blocking CCL20 ameliorated tubular epithelial cell apoptosis. In human kidney tissues, CCL20/CCR6 levels correlated with disease severity, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target. Our findings highlight the importance of modulating the CCL20/CCR6 pathway in managing AKD and its progression to chronic kidney disease.