Tubular epithelial cells promote macrophage pyroptosis through PANX1-extracellular ATP-P2X7 signaling in aldosterone-dependent renal injury

Here, we conducted single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertensive mouse model to characterize the change of cell signaling in macrophages of mouse kidneys. Our scRNA-seq data confirmed that the proportion of macrophages was the most significantly altered cell type among all clusters in response to DOCA-salt treatment.

In addition, P2X7 was specifically enriched in macrophages, and NLRP3 signaling was significantly enriched in macrophage DEGs. Our scRNA-seq data showed that P2X7/NLRP3-related pyroptosis pathway was activated in macrophages of DOCA-salt treated mice.