Myeloid-derived tissue-type plasminogen activator promotes macrophage motility through FAK, Rac1, and NF-κB pathways

Ling Lin1, Yang Jin2, Wendy M Mars3

  • 1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Insights

Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) drives kidney disease by promoting macrophage migration. Myeloid-derived tPA utilizes a novel FAK, Rac-1, and NF-κB pathway to enhance macrophage motility and infiltration in the kidneys.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Macrophage accumulation is a key feature of progressive kidney disease.
  • Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is implicated in macrophage infiltration and renal inflammation in chronic kidney injury, but the mechanism is unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of tPA in macrophage motility and infiltration in kidney injury.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which tPA influences macrophage migration.

Main Methods:

  • Tracking fluorescence-labeled bone marrow-derived macrophages in tPA-deficient and wild-type mice.
  • Bone marrow chimeric mouse experiments to identify the source of endogenous tPA.
  • In vitro studies assessing macrophage motility with tPA, CD11b, focal adhesion kinase (FAK), Rac-1, and NF-κB inhibitors.
  • In vivo analysis of phospho-FAK and Rac-1 activity in kidney tissues.

Main Results:

  • tPA-deficient mice showed significantly reduced macrophage infiltration compared to wild-type mice.
  • Myeloid cells were identified as the primary source of endogenous tPA promoting macrophage migration.
  • tPA enhanced macrophage motility in a protease-independent, CD11b-mediated manner.
  • FAK, Rac-1, and NF-κB signaling pathways were essential for tPA-induced macrophage migration, with ectopic FAK mimicking tPA's effect.
  • tPA activated FAK and Rac-1 signaling in vivo, with reduced phospho-FAK and Rac-1 activity observed in tPA knockout mice.

Conclusions:

  • Myeloid-derived tPA promotes macrophage migration through a novel signaling cascade involving FAK, Rac-1, and NF-κB.
  • Targeting this tPA-mediated pathway could offer therapeutic strategies for kidney diseases characterized by macrophage infiltration.

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