Tissue-specific roles of the pattern recognition receptors NLRP3, NLRX1 and TLR9 in sterile inflammatory kidney disease

In this thesis, the role of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in sterile inflammatory kidney disease is investigated in models of either ischemia reperfusion (IR)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) or diet-associated chronic kidney disease (CKD). Leukocytes infiltrate the kidney upon tissue damage and renal parenchymal cells express Toll- and Nod-like receptors, (respectively abbreviated to TLR and NLR). In both models, damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMP) are present either released by necrotic cells or through dietary intake. In line with the acknowledged role of PRRs, TLRs and NLRs were found to be pro-inflammatory and thus detrimental to the kidney. However, research into the role of PRRs on other physiological processes such as cell death, proliferation and fibrosis revealed novel non-inflammatory, tissue-specific effects. Here, we investigated the tissue-specific role of the PRRs, NLRP3, NLRX1 and TLR9 on inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation, lipid homeostasis and cell death using the model of IR-induced AKI and diet-associated CKD.