A short treatment with resveratrol after a renal ischaemia-reperfusion injury prevents maladaptive repair and long-term chronic kidney disease in rats.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) often triggers physiological processes aimed at restoring renal function and architecture. However, this response can become maladaptive, leading to nephron loss and fibrosis. Although the therapeutic effects of resveratrol (RSV) are well established, its impact after AKI and for subsequent chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. This study assessed whether transient administration of RSV following ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) could prevent the progression to CKD. Forty-one male Wistar rats were assigned randomly to sham surgery, bilateral renal ischaemia for 30 min (IR) or IR+RSV. The RSV treatment commenced 24 h after IRI and continued for 10 days. The rats were studied for either 10 days or 5 months, after which kidney function and structure were evaluated. Mitochondrial homeostasis, oxidant defence and renal inflammation state were also evaluated. Despite having the same severity of AKI, rats receiving RSV for 10 days after IRI exhibited significant improvement in kidney histological injury and reduced inflammation, although renal haemodynamic recovery was less pronounced. Resveratrol effectively prevented the elevation of tubular injury-related molecules and profibrotic signalling with reduced myofibroblast proliferation. Furthermore, RSV substantially improved the antioxidant response and mitochondrial homeostasis. After 5 months, RSV prevented the transition to CKD, as evidenced by the prevention of progressive proteinuria, renal dysfunction and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. This study demonstrates that a brief treatment with RSV following IRI is enough to prevent maladaptive repair and the development of CKD. Our findings highlight the importance of the early days of reperfusion, indicating that maladaptive responses can be reduced effectively following severe AKI. KEY POINTS: Physiological processes activated after acute kidney injury (AKI) can lead to maladaptive responses, causing nephron loss and fibrosis. Prophylactic renoprotection with resveratrol (RSV) has been described in experimental AKI, but its impact after AKI and for subsequent chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. In this study, we found that histological tubular injury persists 10 days after ischaemia-reperfusion injury and contributes to a failed repair phenotype in proximal tubular cells. Short-term RSV intervention influenced the post-ischaemic repair response and accelerated tubular recovery by reducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. Furthermore, RSV targeted inflammation and profibrotic signalling during the maladaptive response, normalizing both processes. Resveratrol effectively prevented AKI-to-CKD transition even 5 months after the intervention. The study serves as a proof of concept, proposing RSV as a valuable candidate for further translational clinical studies to mitigate AKI-to-CKD transition.

Transient inhibition of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 after ischemia/reperfusion injury ameliorates chronic kidney disease.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor, dapagliflozin (Dapa), exhibited nephroprotective effects in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We assessed the efficacy of short-term Dapa administration following acute kidney injury (AKI) in preventing CKD. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to Sham surgery, bilateral ischemia for 30 minutes (abbreviated as IR), and IR + Dapa groups. Daily treatment with Dapa was initiated just 24 hours after IR and maintained for only 10 days. Initially, rats were euthanized at this point to study early renal repair. After severe AKI, Dapa promptly restored creatinine clearance (CrCl) and significantly reduced renal vascular resistance compared with the IR group. Furthermore, Dapa effectively reversed the mitochondrial abnormalities, including increased fission, altered mitophagy, metabolic dysfunction, and proapoptotic signaling. To study this earlier, another set of rats was studied just 5 days after AKI. Despite persistent renal dysfunction, our data reveal a degree of mitochondrial protection. Remarkably, a 10-day treatment with Dapa demonstrated effectiveness in preventing CKD transition in an independent cohort monitored for 5 months after AKI. This was evidenced by improvements in proteinuria, CrCl, glomerulosclerosis, and fibrosis. Our findings underscore the potential of Dapa in preventing maladaptive repair following AKI, emphasizing the crucial role of early intervention in mitigating AKI long-term consequences.

KS-WNK1 is Required for the Renal Response to Extreme Changes in Potassium Intake.

KS-WNK1 is an isoform of WNK1 kinase that is predominantly found in the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney. The precise physiological function of KS-WNK1 remains unclear. Some studies suggest that it could play a role in regulating potassium renal excretion by modulating the activity of the Na+-Cl- cotransporter (NCC). However, changes in the potassium diet from normal to high failed to reveal a role for KS-WNK1, but under a normal potassium diet, the expression of KS-WNK1 is negligible. It is only detectable when mice are exposed to a low potassium diet. In this study, we investigated the role of KS-WNK1 in regulating potassium excretion under extreme changes in potassium intake. After following a zero-potassium diet (0KD) for 10 days, KS-WNK1-/- mice had lower plasma levels of K+ and Cl-, while exhibiting higher urinary excretion of Na+, Cl-, and K+ compared to KS-WNK1+/+ mice. After 10 days of 0KD or normal-potassium diet (NKD), all mice were challenged with a high-potassium diet (HKD). Plasma K+ levels markedly increased after the HKD challenge only in mice previously fed with 0KD, regardless of genotype. KSWNK1+/+ mice adapt better to HKD-challenge than KS-WNK1-/- mice after a potassium-retaining state. The difference in the pNCC/NCC ratio between KS-WNK1+/+ and KS-WNK1-/- mice after 0KD and HKD indicates a role for KS-WNK1 in both, NCC phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. These observations show that KS-WNK1 helps the DCT to respond to extreme changes in potassium intake, such as those occurring in wildlife.

SerpinA3K Deficiency Reduces Oxidative Stress in Acute Kidney Injury.

We previously showed that SerpinA3K is present in urine from rats and humans with acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the specific role of SerpinA3K during renal pathophysiology is unknown. To begin to understand the role of SerpinA3K on AKI, SerpinA3K-deficient (KOSA3) mice were studied 24 h after inducing ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) and compared to wild type (WT) mice. Four groups were studied: WT+S, WT+IR, KOSA3+S, and KOSA3+IR. As expected, I/R increased serum creatinine and BUN, with a GFR reduction in both genotypes; however, renal dysfunction was ameliorated in the KOSA3+IR group. Interestingly, the increase in UH2O2 induced by I/R was not equally seen in the KOSA3+IR group, an effect that was associated with the preservation of antioxidant enzymes' mRNA levels. Additionally, FOXO3 expression was initially greater in the KOSA3 than in the WT group. Moreover, the increase in BAX protein level and the decrease in Hif1a and Vegfa induced by I/R were not observed in the KOSA3+IR group, suggesting that these animals have better cellular responses to hypoxic injury. Our findings suggest that SerpinA3K is involved in the renal oxidant response, HIF1α/VEGF pathway, and cell apoptosis.

Is Renal Ischemic Preconditioning an Alternative to Ameliorate the Short- and Long-Term Consequences of Acute Kidney Injury?

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a global health problem and has recently been recognized as a risk factor for developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Unfortunately, there are no effective treatments to reduce or prevent AKI, which results in high morbidity and mortality rates. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has emerged as a promising strategy to prevent, to the extent possible, renal tissue from AKI. Several studies have used this strategy, which involves short or long cycles of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) prior to a potential fatal ischemic injury. In most of these studies, IPC was effective at reducing renal damage. Since the first study that showed renoprotection due to IPC, several studies have focused on finding the best strategy to activate correctly and efficiently reparative mechanisms, generating different modalities with promising results. In addition, the studies performing remote IPC, by inducing an ischemic process in distant tissues before a renal IR, are also addressed. Here, we review in detail existing studies on IPC strategies for AKI pathophysiology and the proposed triggering mechanisms that have a positive impact on renal function and structure in animal models of AKI and in humans, as well as the prospects and challenges for its clinical application.

Serpin-A3 is Associated with Persistent Albuminuria in Adolescents with Secondary Podocytopathy, in a Region with High Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin

Abstract Background: The state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, has been recognized as a chronic kidney disease hotspot. Screening studies have revealed a high prevalence of persistent albuminuria (pA), histologically characterized by glomerulomegaly, and incomplete podocyte fusion, probably associated with oligonephrony. To date, urinary biomarkers have not been explored in this population. Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the presence of potential biomarkers of early renal injury in patients with pA (pACR) and that correspond with the characteristic nephropathy profile that prevails in this entity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, analytical, and comparative study. Four groups were recruited: adolescents aged 10-17 years with pACR, isolated albuminuria (iACR), no albuminuria (negative control), and adults with biopsy-confirmed glomerulopathy (positive control). Urinary excretion of SerpinA3, heat-shock protein-72 (HSP-72), podocalyxin (PCX), and nephrin was evaluated in urine samples. SerpinA3 and HSP-72 were analyzed by Western blot, and PCX and nephrin were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean GFR in the pACR group was 113.4 mL/min/1.73m2 and differed significantly only from that of the positive control group (65.1 mL/min/1.73m2). The mean albuminuria value in the pACR group was 48.9 mg/g. SerpinA3 concentration differed between groups (0.08 vs. 0.25 ng/mL, p < 0.001): it was significantly higher in the pACR group compared to the negative controls (p = 0.037). Conclusion: SerpinA3 was significantly associated with pA and could become a biomarker of early kidney injury. Further investigations are required to determine whether SerpinA3 precedes the development of albuminuria and its pathogenic role.

Repeated Episodes of Ischemia/Reperfusion Induce Heme-Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and Anti-Inflammatory Responses and Protects against Chronic Kidney Disease.

Preconditioning episodes of ischemia/reperfusion (IR) induce protection against acute kidney injury (AKI), however their long-term effect still unknown. We evaluated AKI to chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition, after three-mild or three-severe episodes of IR. AKI was induced by single bilateral IR (1IR), or three episodes of IR separated by 10-day intervals (3IR) of mild (20 min) or severe (45 min) ischemia. Sham-operated rats served as controls. During 9-months, the 1IR group (20 or 45 min) developed CKD evidenced by progressive proteinuria and renal fibrosis. In contrast, the long-term adverse effects of AKI were markedly ameliorated in the 3IR group. The acute response in 3IR, contrasted with the 1IR group, that was characterized by an increment in heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and an anti-inflammatory response mediated by a NFkB-p65 phosphorylation and IL-6 decrease, together with an increase in TGF-ß, and IL-10 expression, as well as in M2-macrophages. In addition, three episodes of IR downregulated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers expression, CHOP and BiP. Thus, repeated episodes of IR with 10-day intervals induced long-term renal protection accompanied with HO-1 overexpression and M2-macrophages increase.

Urinary serpin-A3 is an early predictor of clinical response to therapy in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis.

We have previously reported that urinary excretion of serpin-A3 (uSerpA3) is significantly elevated in patients with active lupus nephritis (LN). Here, we evaluated the course of uSerpA3 during the first year of treatment and its association with response to therapy in patients with proliferative LN. The observational longitudinal study included 60 Mexican adults with proliferative LN followed during the first year after LN flare. uSerpA3 was detected by Western blot analysis at flare and after 3, 6, and 12 mo. The response to therapy was determined 1 yr after the LN flare. We evaluated the correlation between uSerpA3 and histological parameters at LN flare. The temporal association between uSerpA3 and response to therapy was analyzed with linear mixed models. uSerpA3 prognostic performance for response was evaluated with receiver-operating characteristic curves. Among the 60 patients studied, 21 patients (35%) were class III and 39 patients (65%) were class IV. uSerpA3 was higher in class IV than in class III LN (6.98 vs. 2.89 dots per in./mg creatinine, P = 0.01). Furthermore, uSerpA3 correlated with the histological activity index (r = 0.29, P = 0.02). There was a significant association between the temporal course of uSerpA3 and response to therapy. Responders showed a significant drop in uSerpA3 at 6 mo compared with LN flare (P < 0.001), whereas nonresponders persisted with elevated uSerpA3. Moreover, uSerpA3 was significantly lower at flare in responders compared with nonresponders (2.69 vs. 6.98 dots per in./mg creatinine, P < 0.05). Furthermore, uSerpA3 was able to identify nonresponders since 3 mo after LN flare (area under the curve: 0.77). In conclusion, uSerpA3 is an early indicator of kidney inflammation and predictor of the clinical response to therapy in patients with proliferative LN.NEW & NOTEWORTHY LN requires aggressive immunosuppression to improve long-term outcomes. Current indicators of remission take several months to normalize, prolonging treatment regiments in some cases. Serpin-A3 is present in urine of patients with proliferative LN. We evaluated the excretion of serpin-A3 in serial samples of patients with proliferative LN during the first year after flare. We found that uSerpA3 correlates with kidney inflammation and its decline at early points predicts the response to therapy 1 yr after flare.

Sirtuin 7 Deficiency Reduces Inflammation and Tubular Damage Induced by an Episode of Acute Kidney Injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a public health problem worldwide. Sirtuins are a family of seven NAD+-dependent deacylases, Overexpression of Sirtuin 1, 3, and 5 protect against AKI. However, the role of Sirtuin 7 (Sirt7) in AKI is not known. Here, we analyzed how Sirt7 deficient mice (KO-Sirt7) were affected by AKI. As expected, wild-type and Sirt7 heterozygotes mice that underwent renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR) exhibited the characteristic hallmarks of AKI: renal dysfunction, tubular damage, albuminuria, increased oxidative stress, and renal inflammation. In contrast, the KO-Sirt7+IR mice were protected from AKI, exhibiting lesser albuminuria and reduction in urinary biomarkers of tubular damage, despite similar renal dysfunction. The renoprotection in the Sirt7-KO+IR group was associated with reduced kidney weight, minor expression of inflammatory cytokines and less renal infiltration of inflammatory cells. This anti-inflammatory effect was related to diminished p65 expression and in its active phosphorylation, as well as by a reduction in p65 nuclear translocation. Sirt7 deficient mice are protected from AKI, suggesting that this histone deacetylase promotes tubular damage and renal inflammation. Therefore, our findings indicate that Sirt7 inhibitors may be an attractive therapeutic target to reduce NFκB signaling.

Transient response of serpinA3 during cellular stress.

We demonstrated that serpinA3c/k relocates from the cytoplasm to the apical tubular membrane (ATM) in chronic kidney disease (CKD), suggesting its secretion in luminal space in pathophysiological contexts. Here, we studied serpinA3c/k expression and secretion under different stressful conditions in vitro and in vivo. HEK-293 cells were transfected with a FLAG-tagged serpinA3c/k clone and exposed to H2 O2 or starvation. Both stressors induced serpinA3c/k secretion but with a higher molecular weight. Glycanase treatment established that serpinA3c/k is glycosylated. Site-directed mutagenesis for each of the four glycosylation sites was performed. During cellular stress, serpinA3c/k secretion increased with each mutant except in the quadruple mutant. In rats and patients suffering acute kidney injury (AKI), an atypical urinary serpinA3c/k excretion (uSerpinA3c/k) was observed. In rats with AKI, the greater the induced kidney damage, the greater the uSerpinA3 c/k, together with relocation toward ATM. Our findings show that: (1) serpinA3c/k is glycosylated and secreted, (2) serpinA3c/k secretion increases during cellular stress, (3) its appearance in urine reveals a pathophysiological state, and (4) urinary serpinA3 excretion could become a potential biomarker for AKI.

Factors Associated with Development of Acute Kidney Injury After Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Early post-liver transplant (LT) acute kidney injury (AKI) has been associated with worse short-term and long-term outcomes, but the incidence and risk factors in our population are unknown. METHODS: We designed a prospective, singlecenter, longitudinal cohort study to determine the incidence of AKI during the immediate postoperative period of LT, and to identify the risk factors associated with AKI after LT. Pre-operative and intraoperative variables were analyzed to determine if there was any correlation with the development of post-operative AKI. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were included in the final analysis; from them, 45 (52%) developed AKI in the following 30 days after LT. The presence of hepatic encephalopathy prior to LT was the factor most strongly associated with the development of AKI (Relative Risk 3.67, 95% Confidence Interval 1.08-8.95). Other factors associated with AKI development were male gender and a higher serum lactate during surgery. CONCLUSION: AKI was a frequent complication that significantly worsened the prognosis of LT recipients and was associated with an increased 30-day mortality rate. The presence of hepatic encephalopathy strongly predicted the development of severe AKI.

Serpin-A3 is Associated with Persistent Albuminuria in Adolescents with Secondary Podocytopathy, in a Region with High Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Origin.

Background: The state of Aguascalientes, Mexico, has been recognized as a chronic kidney disease hotspot. Screening studies have revealed a high prevalence of persistent albuminuria (pA), histologically characterized by glomerulomegaly, and incomplete podocyte fusion, probably associated with oligonephrony. To date, urinary biomarkers have not been explored in this population. Objective: The aim of the study was to identify the presence of potential biomarkers of early renal injury in patients with pA (pACR) and that correspond with the characteristic nephropathy profile that prevails in this entity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional, analytical, and comparative study. Four groups were recruited: adolescents aged 10-17 years with pACR, isolated albuminuria (iACR), no albuminuria (negative control), and adults with biopsy-confirmed glomerulopathy (positive control). Urinary excretion of SerpinA3, heat-shock protein-72 (HSP-72), podocalyxin (PCX), and nephrin was evaluated in urine samples. SerpinA3 and HSP-72 were analyzed by Western blot, and PCX and nephrin were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The mean GFR in the pACR group was 113.4 mL/min/1.73m2 and differed significantly only from that of the positive control group (65.1 mL/min/1.73m2). The mean albuminuria value in the pACR group was 48.9 mg/g. SerpinA3 concentration differed between groups (0.08 vs. 0.25 ng/mL, p < 0.001): it was significantly higher in the pACR group compared to the negative controls (p = 0.037). Conclusion: SerpinA3 was significantly associated with pA and could become a biomarker of early kidney injury. Further investigations are required to determine whether SerpinA3 precedes the development of albuminuria and its pathogenic role.

Ethical considerations in animal research: the principle of 3r's

In the last century, progress in the knowledge of human diseases, their diagnosis and treatment have grown exponentially, due in large part to the introduction and use of laboratory animals. Along with this important progress, the need to provide training and guidance to the scientific community in all aspects related to the proper use of experimental animals has been indispensable. Animal research committees play a primary role in evaluating experimental research protocols, from their feasibility to the rational use of animals, but above all in seeking animal welfare. The Institutional Committee for the Care and Use of Animals (IACUC) has endeavored to share several relevant aspects in conducting research with laboratory animals. Here, we present and discuss the topics that we consider of utmost importance to take in the account during the design of any experimental research protocol, so we invite researchers, technicians, and undergraduate and graduate students to dive into the fascinating subject of proper animal care and use for experimentation. The main intention of these contributions is to sensitize users of laboratory animals for the proper and rational use of them in experimental research, as well as to disseminate the permitted and unpermitted procedures in laboratory animals. In the first part, the significance of experimental research, the main functions of IACUC, and the principle of the three R's (replacement, reduction, and refinement) are addressed.

Early triggers of moderately high-fat diet-induced kidney damage.

Most of the obesity murine models inducing renal injury use calorie-enriched foods, where fat represents 60% of the total caloric supply, however, this strategy doubles the standard proportion of fat ingestion in obese patients. Therefore, it is crucial to study the impact of a high-fat intake on kidney physiology that resembles common obesity in humans to understand the trigger mechanisms of the long-term consequences of overweight and obesity. In this study, we analyzed whether chronic feeding with a moderately high fat diet (MHFD) representing 45% of total calories, may induce kidney function and structural injury compared to C57BL/6 mice fed a control diet. After 14 weeks, MHFD induced significant mice obesity. At the functional level, obese mice showed signs of kidney injury characterized by increased albuminuria/creatinine ratio and higher excretion of urinary biomarkers of kidney damage. While, at the structural level, glomerular hypertrophy was observed. Although, we did not detect renal fibrosis, the obese mice exhibited a significant elevation of Tgfb1 mRNA levels. Kidney damage caused by the exposure to MHFD was associated with greater oxidative stress, renal inflammation, higher endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress, and disruption of mitochondrial dynamics. In summary, our data demonstrate that obesity induced by a milder fat content diet is enough to establish renal injury, where oxidative stress, inflammation, ER-stress, and mitochondrial damage take relevance, pointing out the importance of opportune interventions to avoid the long-term consequences associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Vegfa promoter gene hypermethylation at HIF1α binding site is an early contributor to CKD progression after renal ischemia.

Chronic hypoxia is a major contributor to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) after Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). However, the temporal relation between the acute insult and maladaptive renal response to hypoxia remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the time-course of renal hemodynamics, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis, as well as epigenetic modifications, with focus on HIF1α/VEGF signaling, in the AKI to CKD transition. Sham-operated, right nephrectomy (UNx), and UNx plus renal ischemia (IR + UNx) groups of rats were included and studied at 1, 2, 3, or 4 months. The IR + UNx group developed CKD characterized by progressive proteinuria, renal dysfunction, tubular proliferation, and fibrosis. At first month post-ischemia, there was a twofold significant increase in oxidative stress and reduction in global DNA methylation that was maintained throughout the study. Hif1α and Vegfa expression were depressed in the first and second-months post-ischemia, and then Hif1α but not Vegfa expression was recovered. Interestingly, hypermethylation of the Vegfa promoter gene at the HIF1α binding site was found, since early stages of the CKD progression. Our findings suggest that renal hypoperfusion, inefficient hypoxic response, increased oxidative stress, DNA hypomethylation, and, Vegfa promoter gene hypermethylation at HIF1α binding site, are early determinants of AKI-to-CKD transition.

Role of KLHL3 and dietary K+ in regulating KS-WNK1 expression.

The physiological role of the shorter isoform of with no lysine kinase (WNK)1 that is exclusively expressed in the kidney (KS-WNK1), with particular abundance in the distal convoluted tubule, remains elusive. KS-WNK1, despite lacking the kinase domain, is nevertheless capable of stimulating the NaCl cotransporter, apparently through activation of WNK4. It has recently been shown that a less severe form of familial hyperkalemic hypertension featuring only hyperkalemia is caused by missense mutations in the WNK1 acidic domain that preferentially affect cullin 3 (CUL3)-Kelch-like protein 3 (KLHL3) E3-induced degradation of KS-WNK1 rather than that of full-length WNK1. Here, we show that full-length WNK1 is indeed less impacted by the CUL3-KLHL3 E3 ligase complex compared with KS-WNK1. We demonstrated that the unique 30-amino acid NH2-terminal fragment of KS-WNK1 is essential for its activating effect on the NaCl cotransporter and recognition by KLHL3. We identified specific amino acid residues in this region critical for the functional effect of KS-WNK1 and KLHL3 sensitivity. To further explore this, we generated KLHL3-R528H knockin mice that mimic human mutations causing familial hyperkalemic hypertension. These mice revealed that the KLHL3 mutation specifically increased expression of KS-WNK1 in the kidney. We also observed that in wild-type mice, the expression of KS-WNK1 was only detectable after exposure to a low-K+ diet. These findings provide new insights into the regulation and function of KS-WNK1 by the CUL3-KLHL3 complex in the distal convoluted tubule and indicate that this pathway is regulated by dietary K+ levels.NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this work, we demonstrated that the kidney-specific isoform of with no lysine kinase 1 (KS-WNK1) in the kidney is modulated by dietary K+ and activity of the ubiquitin ligase protein Kelch-like protein 3. We analyzed the role of different amino acid residues of KS-WNK1 in its activity against the NaCl cotransporter and sensitivity to Kelch-like protein 3.

Understanding the opposite effects of sex hormones in mediating renal injury.

According to epidemiological studies, chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more women than men, but the incidence of end-stage renal disease is higher in men than in women. However, most of these studies have not considered the incidence of CKD in women of reproductive or post-menopausal age, and even fewer with hormone replacement therapy. Some meta-analyses have reported an exacerbated progression of CKD in men compared with women. Consequently, in most of the experimental models of renal injury, men of reproductive age exhibit more abnormalities in renal function and structure that lead to greater progression to CKD than women, which suggests that these differences are mediated by sex hormones rather than by other factors. This review intends to show the mechanisms regulated by oestrogen or testosterone that may explain the different risks and evolution of renal diseases between men and women. Regardless of the initial cause of kidney disease, sex hormones have been implicated in modulating vascular tone, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. Finally, our previous study highlights the mechanisms by which the transition from acute kidney injury to CKD does not occur in female rats as commonly as it does in male rats. This review not only identifies sex differences in several kidney diseases but also supports potential therapeutic opportunities to reduce or prevent the progression of CKD and highlights the importance of considering sex differences in the design of any clinical study.

An integrative view of serpins in health and disease: the contribution of SerpinA3.

Serpins are a superfamily of proteins characterized by their common function as serine protease inhibitors. So far, 36 serpins from nine clades have been identified. These proteins are expressed in all the organs and are involved in multiple important functions such as the regulation of blood pressure, hormone transport, insulin sensitivity, and the inflammatory response. Diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney disorders are intensively studied to find effective therapeutic targets. Given the serpins' outstanding functionality, the deficiency or overexpression of certain types of serpin has been associated with diverse pathophysiological events. In particular, we focus here on reviewing the studies evaluating the participation of serpins, and particularly SerpinA3, in diverse diseases that occur in relevant organs such as the brain, retinas, corneas, lungs, cardiac vasculature, and kidneys. In this review, we summarize the role of serpins in physiological and pathophysiological processes as well as recent evidence on the crucial role of SerpinA3 in several pathologies. Finally, we emphasize the importance of SerpinA3 in regulating cellular processes such as angiogenesis, apoptosis, fibrosis, oxidative stress, and the inflammatory response.

Effect of Fosfomycin on Cyclosporine Nephrotoxicity.

Fosfomycin (Fos) has emerged as a potential treatment against multidrug-resistant organisms, however, there has been little work done on its influence on calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (CIN). This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Fos in combination with cyclosporine (CsA) on CIN. Two sets of experiments were undertaken. In the first, Wistar rats received different doses of Fos: 0, 62.5, 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg. In the second, rats were divided into four groups: control, CsA 15 mg/kg s.c., CsA + fosfomycin 62.5 mg/kg (CsA + LF), and CsA + Fos 500 mg/kg (CsA + HF). CsA was administrated daily for 14 days, whereas Fos administration started on the ninth day followed by two more doses, delivered 48 h apart. The administration of different Fos doses did not alter renal function. In contrast, CsA induced arteriolopathy, hypoperfusion, a reduction in the glomerular filtration rate, and downregulation of eNOS, angiotensinogen, and AT1R mRNA levels. Lower doses of Fos did not modify CIN. Instead, the CsA + HF group exhibited greater hypoperfusion, arteriolopathy, and oxidative stress, and increased mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This study shows that Fos administered by itself at different doses did not cause renal injury, but when it was given repeatedly at high dosages (500 mg/kg) in combination with CsA, it increased CIN through the promotion of greater oxidative stress and renal inflammation.

Ethical Considerations in Animal Research: The Principle of 3R's.

In the last century, progress in the knowledge of human diseases, their diagnosis and treatment have grown exponentially, due in large part to the introduction and use of laboratory animals. Along with this important progress, the need to provide training and guidance to the scientific community in all aspects related to the proper use of experimental animals has been indispensable. Animal research committees play a primary role in evaluating experimental research protocols, from their feasibility to the rational use of animals, but above all in seeking animal welfare. The Institutional Committee for the Care and Use of Animals (IACUC) has endeavored to share several relevant aspects in conducting research with laboratory animals. Here, we present and discuss the topics that we consider of utmost importance to take in the account during the design of any experimental research protocol, so we invite researchers, technicians, and undergraduate and graduate students to dive into the fascinating subject of proper animal care and use for experimentation. The main intention of these contributions is to sensitize users of laboratory animals for the proper and rational use of them in experimental research, as well as to disseminate the permitted and unpermitted procedures in laboratory animals. In the first part, the significance of experimental research, the main functions of IACUC, and the principle of the three R's (replacement, reduction, and refinement) are addressed.