IL-1 Inhibition and Vascular Function in CKD.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness contribute to increased cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD who exhibit chronic systemic inflammation. Because chronic inflammation contributes to vascular dysfunction, blocking inflammation may reduce cardiovascular risk in patients with CKD. In a two-site, double-blind trial, we randomized 42 adult patients with stage 3-4 CKD who were already receiving optimal background therapy to receive either IL-1 trap rilonacept or placebo for 12 weeks. Coprimary end points included change in brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMDBA) and aortic pulse-wave velocity (aPWV) after 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Exploratory end points included change in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), FMDBA after acute ascorbic acid infusion, and vascular endothelial cell protein expression of NADPH oxidase. Participants were 63±11 (mean±SD) years of age and 24% were women; mean eGFR was 38±13 ml/min per 1.73 m2 Compared with placebo, rilonacept improved FMDBA (baseline: 3.36%±2.06% [mean±SD], 12 weeks: 2.45%±2.29% with placebo and baseline: 3.75%±3.12%, 12 weeks: 4.86%±3.20% with rilonacept; P<0.01), without changing aPWV (P=0.56). Rilonacept also reduced hsCRP levels (median [interquartile range]) (baseline: 4.60 [1.90-8.22] mg/L, 12 weeks: 2.16 [0.92-7.38] mg/L; P<0.01) and endothelial cell NADPH oxidase expression (P<0.05). Acute infusion of ascorbic acid to inhibit superoxide production associated with a nonsignificant trend toward increased FMDBA in the placebo group (P=0.07) but not the rilonacept group (P=0.56). Rilonacept was well tolerated (five adverse events versus two with placebo). In conclusion, treatment with an IL-1 trap improved FMDBA without changing aPWV and reduced systemic inflammation in patients with CKD.

IL-1 Inhibition and Function of the HDL-Containing Fraction of Plasma in Patients with Stages 3 to 5 CKD.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Systemic inflammation modulates cardiovascular disease risk and functionality of HDL in the setting of CKD. Whether interventions that modify systemic inflammation can improve HDL function in CKD is unknown. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: We conducted a post hoc analysis of two randomized, clinical trials, IL-1 trap in participants with GFR 15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (study A) and IL-1 receptor antagonist in participants on maintenance hemodialysis (study B), to evaluate if IL-1 blockade had improved the anti-inflammatory activity (IL-6, TNF-α, and Nod-like receptor protein 3), antioxidant function (superoxide production), and net cholesterol efflux capacity of HDL. HDL function was measured using LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages or peritoneal macrophages of apoE-deficient mice exposed to the apoB-depleted, HDL-containing fraction obtained from the plasma of the study participants, collected before and after the interventions to block IL-1 effects. Analysis of covariance was used for between group comparisons. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 60±13 years, 72% (n=33) were men, and 39% (n=18) were black. There were 32 CKD (16 IL-1 trap and 16 placebo) and 14 maintenance hemodialysis (7 IL-1 receptor antagonist and 7 placebo) participants. Compared with placebo, IL-1 inhibition, in study A and B reduced cellular expression of TNF-α by 15% (P=0.05) and 64% (P=0.02), IL-6 by 38% (P=0.004) and 56% (P=0.08), and Nod-like receptor protein 3 by 16% (P=0.01) and 25% (P=0.02), respectively. The intervention blunted superoxide production in the treated arm compared with placebo, with the values being higher by 17% in the placebo arm in study A (P<0.001) and 12% in the placebo arm in study B (P=0.004). Net cholesterol efflux capacity was not affected by either intervention. CONCLUSIONS: IL-1 blockade improves the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of the HDL-containing fraction of plasma in patients with stages 3-5 CKD, including those on maintenance hemodialysis.