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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutritional Immunology
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1545720
This article is part of the Research Topic Immunonutrition: Bridging Precision Nutrition and Modern Medicine View all 9 articles
Retinoic Acid Modulates Peritoneal Macrophage Function and Distribution to Enhance Antib acterial Defense During Inflammation
Provisionally accepted
Yujuan Qin 1
Xi Wang 2
Xiamin Zhang 1 Lianting Nong 3 Qiyan Hou 3
Chen Yuhong 3 Yuting Li 3
Wenxian Lin 3 Xiuli Mao 3
Kezhao Wu 3 Wenqian Nong 3 Tonghua Wang 1*
Lingzhang Meng 3*
Jian Song 4*- 1 Graduate School, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, China
- 2 Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Region, China
- 3 The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, China
- 4 University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
Background:Peritoneal macrophages, comprising large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs) and small peritoneal macrophages (SPMs), play a vital role in maintaining immune defenses during inflammation. However, the molecular mechanisms governing their responses, particularly the impact of retinoic acid (RA), remain poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the role of RA in modulating macrophage function, distribution, and immune responses during bacterial infections.Methods:A murine model of peritonitis was established using Escherichia coli expressing a tdTomato fluorescence marker. The effects of RA on macrophage phagocytic capacity, population dynamics, and transcriptomic profiles were assessed using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, RNA sequencing, and quantitative PCR. Additionally, RA-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles were employed to investigate the sustained effects of RA delivery.Results:RA significantly enhanced macrophage phagocytic activity, delayed functional decline, and promoted the recruitment of SPMs in the peritoneal cavity. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of leukocyte migration and cell adhesion pathways in RA-treated SPMs. RA treatment also induced distinct gene expression profiles in macrophage subpopulations, reflecting its role in immune modulation. Notably, RA-loaded ZIF-8 nanoparticles prolonged RA retention within macrophages, sustaining its effects.Conclusions:RA enhances antibacterial defense by modulating macrophage activity, providing new insights into immune regulation. These findings underscore the therapeutic potential of RA and its nanoparticle formulations in managing bacterial infections and inflammation.
Keywords: Peritonitis, large peritoneal macrophages, small peritoneal macrophages, Retinoic acid, Nanoparticles
Received: 15 Dec 2024; Accepted: 07 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Qin, Wang, Zhang, Nong, Hou, Yuhong, Li, Lin, Mao, Wu, Nong, Wang, Meng and Song. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Tonghua Wang, Graduate School, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, China
Lingzhang Meng, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, China
Jian Song, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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