LPS-Treated Podocytes Polarize Naive CD4⁺ T Cells into Th17 and Treg Cells

Our study is aimed at investigating whether Lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) treated podocytes could polarize naive CD4⁺ T cells into different subsets in vitro.

Podocytes and mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were first cultured with 25 μg/ml LPS for 6 hours, respectively. Then, naive CD4⁺ T cells were cocultured with the LPS-treated podocytes or BMDCs at a ratio of 1 : 1 or 1 : 1 : 1. After 48 hours, we collected the suspended cells and supernatant from all groups to measure T helper (Th)17 cells, regulatory T (Treg) cells, and cytokine concentration.

We observed the expression of CD80 and major histocompatibility complex class II molecule (MHC II) in podocytes but did not found the upregulation of them after treating podocytes with LPS. LPS-treated podocytes could induce naive CD4⁺ T cells to Th17 cells and Treg cells with a higher ratio of Th17/Treg than BMDCs. Possible interaction between podocytes and BMDCs may exist in the induction process of Th17 cells and Treg cells.

Our study proved that CD80 and MHC II were constitutively expressed in podocytes but not upregulated by LPS. LPS-treated podocytes could polarize naive CD4⁺ T cells into Th17 and Treg cells and affect the Th17/Treg balance and may incline to cause a Th17 response.