Abstract: Objective To investigate high-salt exposure-induced polarization of mononuclear macrophages and the changes in proliferation and phenotypic transformation of renal fibroblasts in a co-culture system. Methods Cultured mononuclear macrophages were exposed to high salt (161 mmol/L Na + ) for 2 h and the surface markers of M0, M1 and M2-type macrophages were detected with RT-qPCR. The culture medium of the macrophages in normal and high-salt groups was collected for detection of the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 using RT-qPCR and ELISA. A co-culture system of high salt-exposed macrophages and renal fibroblasts (NRK-49F) was established using a Transwell chamber, and the changes in proliferation and migration of NRK-49F cells were examined using EdU assay and Transwell assay, respectively. Western blotting was performed to detect the expressions of collagen I, collagen III and collagen α-SMA in NRK-49F cells. Results The high salt-exposed macrophages showed significantly increased mRNA levels of M2-type macrophage surface markers mannose receptor and arginase (P<0.05). The results of EdU and Transwell assays showed that NRK-49F cells co-cultured with high salt-exposed macrophages exhibited significantly increased proliferation and migration ability (P<0.05). Co-culture with high salt-exposed macrophages resulted in significantly enhanced protein expressions of collagen I, collagen III and α-SMA in NRK-49F cells (P<0.05) and significantly increased levels of IL-6 and TGF-β1 in the culture medium (P<0.05). Conclusion High-salt exposure induces polarization of mononuclear macrophages into M2-type macrophages and promotes secretion of IL-6 and TGF-β1 by the macrophages to induce the proliferation and phenotypic transformation of NRK-49F cells. 

Key words: high salt, macrophages, renal fibroblasts, cell proliferation, phenotypic transformation