Mesangial cells contain soluble factors polarising macrophages depending on their genetic background.

Supernatant transfer from P5 MCs (WKY or LEW) onto WKY or LEW bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). A. qRT-PCR assessment of M1 macrophage markers (Nos2, Il1b, Tnfa, Il12b) in WKY (left panel) and LEW (right panel) BMDMs following incubation with MCs supernatants from both strains. Note the increased expression of all M1 markers in WKY BMDMs following incubation with WKY MC supernatants. B. qRT-PCR assessment of M2 macrophage markers (Mrc1, Il10) in WKY (left panel) and LEW (right panel) BMDMs following incubation with MCs supernatants from both strains. Note the increased expression of all M2 markers in LEW BMDMs following incubation with WKY MC supernatants. *, P<0.01; **P<0.001; the results are representative of two experiments, n = 4 rats/strain used per experiment.