Renal Antigen-presenting cells from ANG II hypertensive donors transfer blood pressure and promote sodium retention

Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are present in the renal interstitium and may modulate tubular function. We hypothesize that angiotensin II (Ang II) induces a pro-hypertensive phenotype in renal APCs, contributing to decreased natriuresis and hypertension. We evaluated the role of renal APCs as modulators of BP, in CD11c.DOG mice injected with diphtheria toxin (DT). Elimination of 70% of renal APCs by DT prevented the increase in BP, cardiac hypertrophy, decreased natriuresis, and NKCC2 activation. Secondly, we compared the effect of adoptive transfer of renal and splenic APCs on BP and natriuresis in wild type mice. Renal APCs from Ang II mice induced a transient BP increase and reduced natriuresis. In contrast, renal APCs from control mice or splenic APCs from control or Ang II-infused mice, did not modify BP or natriuresis. In CD11c.DOG mice depleted from DCs, the adoptive transfer of renal APCs from AngII-infused mice increased the BP. However, RAG1 knockout mice, devoid of T cells, did not present an increase in BP after the adoptive transfer of renal APCs of AngII-infused mice. Renal APCs from Ang II-infused mice showed increased NOX2, SGK1, and proinflammatory cytokine expression compared to control renal APCs. Cell-tracking experiments of transferred renal APCs into a normotensive host showed preferential homing to the host kidneys and higher receptor expression for the renal-homing chemokine, fractalkine (CX3CR1). We conclude that renal APCs acquire a pro-hypertensive phenotype due to high Ang II levels, conferring the ability to modulate renal sodium handling.