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 (@*CONCLUSIONS@#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.