Macrophage autophagy protects against acute kidney injury by inhibiting renal inflammation through the degradation of TARM1.

Macroautophagy/autophagy activation in renal tubular epithelial cells protects against acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the role of immune cell autophagy, such as that involving macrophages, in AKI remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that macrophage autophagy was an adaptive response during AKI as mice with macrophage-specific autophagy deficiency () exhibited higher serum creatinine, more severe renal tubule injury, increased infiltration of ADGRE1/F4/80 macrophages, and elevated expression of inflammatory factors compared to WT mice during AKI induced by either LPS or unilateral ischemia-reperfusion.