Selective depletion of a CD64-expressing phagocyte subset mediates protection against toxic kidney injury and failure

Dendritic cells (DC), macrophages, and monocytes, collectively known as mononuclear phagocytes (MPs), critically control tissue homeostasis and immune defense. However, there is a paucity of models allowing to selectively manipulate subsets of these cells in specific tissues. The steady-state adult kidney contains four MP subsets with Clec9a-expression history that include the main conventional DC1 (cDC1) and cDC2 subtypes as well as two subsets marked by CD64 but varying levels of F4/80. How each of these MP subsets contributes to the different phases of acute kidney injury and repair is unknown. We created a mouse model with a Cre-inducible lox-STOP-lox-diphtheria toxin receptor cassette under control of the endogenous CD64 locus that allows for diphtheria toxin–mediated depletion of CD64-expressing MPs without affecting cDC1, cDC2, or other leukocytes in the kidney. Combined with specific depletion of cDC1 and cDC2, we revisited the role of MPs in cisplatin-induced kidney injury. We found that the intrinsic potency reported for CD11c(+) cells to limit cisplatin toxicity is specifically attributed to CD64(+) MPs, while cDC1 and cDC2 were dispensable. Thus, we report a mouse model allowing for selective depletion of a specific subset of renal MPs. Our findings in cisplatin-induced injury underscore the value of dissecting the functions of individual MP subsets in kidney disease, which may enable therapeutic targeting of specific immune components in the absence of general immunosuppression.