MAFB in Macrophages Regulates Prostaglandin E2-Mediated Lipid Mediator Class Switch through ALOX15 in Ischemic Acute

Maho Kanai1,2, Teppei Nishino1,3, Dhouha Daassi1

  • 1Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

Insights

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma. MAFB transcription factor in macrophages promotes resolution of inflammation in acute kidney injury (AKI) by regulating Alox15 expression and lipid mediator class switching.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Nephrology

Background:

  • Monocytes and macrophages express MAFB (V-maf musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma oncogene homolog B) and protect against ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI).
  • The precise mechanism by which MAFB alleviates AKI in macrophages is not fully understood.
  • Understanding MAFB's role is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies for AKI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism through which MAFB alleviates ischemic AKI in macrophages.
  • To investigate the role of MAFB in regulating inflammatory responses and lipid mediator production during AKI.
  • To identify potential therapeutic targets for mitigating kidney injury.

Main Methods:

  • Induction of AKI in macrophage lineage-specific Mafb-deficient mice using the ischemia-reperfusion injury model.
  • Analysis of MAFB and Alox15 (arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase) expression at mRNA and protein levels in infiltrating macrophages.
  • In vitro assays to examine the regulation of Alox15 by MAFB under the COX-2/PGE2/EP4 pathway.

Main Results:

  • MAFB deficiency in macrophages significantly decreased Alox15 expression during ischemic AKI.
  • MAFB regulates Alox15 expression in macrophages via the COX-2/PGE2/EP4 pathway.
  • MAFB promotes the resolution of inflammation in ischemic AKI by regulating Alox15 and facilitating the lipid mediator class switch.

Conclusions:

  • MAFB in macrophages plays a critical role in alleviating ischemic AKI by regulating Alox15 expression.
  • MAFB mediates the PGE2-induced lipid mediator class switch from inflammatory to specialized proresolving mediators.
  • This study reveals a novel mechanism for MAFB in macrophage-mediated kidney protection and offers insights into inflammatory resolution pathways.