CXCL16 Deficiency Attenuates Renal Injury and Fibrosis in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive kidney disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the induction of inflammation are not completely understood. We have found that CXCL16 is induced in the kidney in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension. Here we examined whether CXCL16 is involved in DOCA-salt-induced renal inflammation and fibrosis. Wild-type and CXCL16 knockout mice were subjected to uninephrectomy and DOCA-salt treatment for 3 weeks. There was no difference in blood pressure at baseline between wild-type and CXCL16 knockout mice. DOCA-salt treatment resulted in significant elevation in blood pressure that was comparable between wild-type and CXCL16 knockout mice. CXCL16 knockout mice exhibited less severe renal dysfunction, proteinuria, and fibrosis after DOCA-salt treatment compared with wild-type mice. CXCL16 deficiency attenuated extracellular matrix protein production and suppressed bone marrow–derived fibroblast accumulation and myofibroblast formation in the kidneys following DOCA-salt treatment. Furthermore, CXCL16 deficiency reduced macrophage and T cell infiltration into the kidneys in response to DOCA-salt hypertension. Taken together, our results indicate that CXCL16 plays a key role in the pathogenesis of renal injury and fibrosis in salt-sensitive hypertension through regulation of bone marrow–derived fibroblast accumulation and macrophage and T cell infiltration.