High salt induces anti-inflammatory MΦ2-like phenotype in peripheral macrophages

AbstractMacrophages play a critical role in inflammation and antigen-presentation. Abnormal macrophage function has been attributed in autoimmune diseases and cancer progression. Recent evidence suggests that high salt tissue micro-environment causes changes in macrophage activation. In our current report, we studied the role of extracellular sodium chloride on phenotype changes in peripheral circulating monocyte/macrophages collected from healthy donors. High salt (0.2M NaCl vs basal 0.1M NaCl) treatment resulted in a decrease in MΦ1 macrophage phenotype (CD11b+CD14highCD16low) from 77.4±6.2% (0.1M) to 29.3±5.7% (0.2M, p<0.05), while there was an increase in MΦ2 macrophage phenotype (CD11b+ CD14lowCD16high) from 17.2±5.9% (0.1M) to 67.4±9.4% (0.2M, p