Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells

IntroductionIntact kidney function is essential for fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, with renal tubular epithelial cells providing critical functions in the reabsorption or secretion of numerous metabolites. Cellular senescence of the renal epithelial cells can lead to functional deficits. Therefo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Nils David Funk, Julius Sinning, Patrick Schaser, Inga Soerensen-Zender, Vera Christine Wulfmeyer, Kai Schmidt-Ott, Korbinian Brand, Stephan Halle, Roland Schmitt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1597230/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850110746487160832
author Nils David Funk
Julius Sinning
Patrick Schaser
Patrick Schaser
Inga Soerensen-Zender
Vera Christine Wulfmeyer
Kai Schmidt-Ott
Korbinian Brand
Stephan Halle
Stephan Halle
Roland Schmitt
Roland Schmitt
author_facet Nils David Funk
Julius Sinning
Patrick Schaser
Patrick Schaser
Inga Soerensen-Zender
Vera Christine Wulfmeyer
Kai Schmidt-Ott
Korbinian Brand
Stephan Halle
Stephan Halle
Roland Schmitt
Roland Schmitt
author_sort Nils David Funk
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionIntact kidney function is essential for fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, with renal tubular epithelial cells providing critical functions in the reabsorption or secretion of numerous metabolites. Cellular senescence of the renal epithelial cells can lead to functional deficits. Therefore, immune-cell-mediated clearance of senescent epithelial cells can be an important factor for the maintenance of kidney function.MethodsIn this study, we established a model to directly monitor natural killer (NK) cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular cells. To this end we used primary cell co-cultures with different read-outs and life cell imaging.Results and DiscussionWe observed that the clustering of NK cells on senescent renal epithelial cells could be used to detect senescence-triggered NK cell activation. Also, we found that NKG2D signaling and perforin-dependent lysis of senescent renal epithelial cells were crucial steps in the lysis of senescent cells. In addition, NK cell-mediated attack of senescent renal epithelial cells could be dampened by the addition of cyclosporine A and was augmented by the addition of interleukin 7. Together, these data show that NK cells can efficiently mediate the clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells involving NK cell activation by NKG2D signaling.
format Article
id doaj-art-a626fbada02e458d8e416178787e0a9f
institution OA Journals
issn 2296-634X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
spelling doaj-art-a626fbada02e458d8e416178787e0a9f2025-08-20T02:37:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2025-06-011310.3389/fcell.2025.15972301597230Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cellsNils David Funk0Julius Sinning1Patrick Schaser2Patrick Schaser3Inga Soerensen-Zender4Vera Christine Wulfmeyer5Kai Schmidt-Ott6Korbinian Brand7Stephan Halle8Stephan Halle9Roland Schmitt10Roland Schmitt11Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyInstitute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyInstitute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyInstitute of Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, GermanyDepartment of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, GermanyIntroductionIntact kidney function is essential for fluid and electrolyte homeostasis, with renal tubular epithelial cells providing critical functions in the reabsorption or secretion of numerous metabolites. Cellular senescence of the renal epithelial cells can lead to functional deficits. Therefore, immune-cell-mediated clearance of senescent epithelial cells can be an important factor for the maintenance of kidney function.MethodsIn this study, we established a model to directly monitor natural killer (NK) cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular cells. To this end we used primary cell co-cultures with different read-outs and life cell imaging.Results and DiscussionWe observed that the clustering of NK cells on senescent renal epithelial cells could be used to detect senescence-triggered NK cell activation. Also, we found that NKG2D signaling and perforin-dependent lysis of senescent renal epithelial cells were crucial steps in the lysis of senescent cells. In addition, NK cell-mediated attack of senescent renal epithelial cells could be dampened by the addition of cyclosporine A and was augmented by the addition of interleukin 7. Together, these data show that NK cells can efficiently mediate the clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells involving NK cell activation by NKG2D signaling.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1597230/fullsenescenceNK cellskidneyPTECCKD - chronic kidney diseaseimmunosurveillance
spellingShingle Nils David Funk
Julius Sinning
Patrick Schaser
Patrick Schaser
Inga Soerensen-Zender
Vera Christine Wulfmeyer
Kai Schmidt-Ott
Korbinian Brand
Stephan Halle
Stephan Halle
Roland Schmitt
Roland Schmitt
Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
senescence
NK cells
kidney
PTEC
CKD - chronic kidney disease
immunosurveillance
title Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
title_full Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
title_fullStr Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
title_short Mechanisms of natural killer cell-mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
title_sort mechanisms of natural killer cell mediated clearance of senescent renal tubular epithelial cells
topic senescence
NK cells
kidney
PTEC
CKD - chronic kidney disease
immunosurveillance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2025.1597230/full
work_keys_str_mv AT nilsdavidfunk mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT juliussinning mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT patrickschaser mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT patrickschaser mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT ingasoerensenzender mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT verachristinewulfmeyer mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT kaischmidtott mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT korbinianbrand mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT stephanhalle mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT stephanhalle mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT rolandschmitt mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells
AT rolandschmitt mechanismsofnaturalkillercellmediatedclearanceofsenescentrenaltubularepithelialcells