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Cell-Specific Roles of Angiopoietin-2 in CKD

Luo AJ, Gau TS, Tsai MT, Li SY, Huang SY, Hsu CL, Lin WC, Huang KH et al.

Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN, 2026

1 citation

Abstract

Key points: Global deletion of angiopoietin-2 protected against the progression of CKD. Endothelial cell-derived angiopoietin-2 drove early inflammation by promoting endothelial activation. Tubular epithelial cell-derived angiopoietin-2 contributed to functional decline and kidney fibrosis in advanced CKD.

Background: CKD is driven by inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and fibrosis, with emerging evidence implicating angiopoietin-2 as a key mediator. While angiopoietin-2 is produced by endothelial cells and upregulated in injured tubular epithelial cells (TECs), the distinct contributions of endothelial cell-derived and TEC-derived angiopoietin-2 remain unclear. This study defines the cell type-specific roles of angiopoietin-2 in CKD pathogenesis.

Methods: We examined kidney transcriptomes and outcomes from the Taipei Renal Transcriptomics and Outcomes Investigation cohort, with fibrosis assessed by histology and RNA sequencing. Global, endothelial cell-specific, and TEC-specific angiopoietin-2 knockout mice were subjected to experimental CKD. Kidney injury, inflammation, vascular changes, and fibrosis were evaluated using histologic, molecular, and imaging analyses.

Results: In patients with CKD, elevated kidney ANGPT2 mRNA was associated with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, greater kidney fibrosis, and adverse kidney outcomes. Global deletion of angiopoietin-2 in mice preserved kidney function and reduced inflammation, vascular rarefaction, and fibrosis during…

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