[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of 12 cases of lupus nephritis complicated with thrombotic microangiopathy]. / 12ä¾‹ç‹¼ç–®æ€§è‚¾ç‚Žåˆå¹¶è¡€æ “æ€§å¾®è¡€ç®¡ç— å˜ä¸´åºŠç‰¹ç‚¹åŠé¢„åŽåˆ†æž.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the clinical characteristics, pathological features, treatment regimen, and prognosis of children with lupus nephritis (LN) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), as well as the treatment outcome of these children and the clinical and pathological differences between LN children with TMA and those without TMA. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 12 children with LN and TMA (TMA group) who were admitted to the Department of Nephrology, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, from December 2010 to December 2021. Twenty-four LN children without TMA who underwent renal biopsy during the same period were included as the non-TMA group. The two groups were compared in terms of clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results, and pathological results. RESULTS: Among the 12 children with TMA, 8 (67%) had hypertension and 3 (25%) progressed to stage 5 chronic kidney disease. Compared with the non-TMA group, the TMA group had more severe tubulointerstitial damage, a higher Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score at onset, and higher cholesterol levels (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentage of crescent bodies and the levels of hemoglobin and platelets (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is a higher proportion of individuals with hypertension among the children with LN and TMA, as well as more severe tubulointerstitial damage. These children have a higher SLEDAI score and a higher cholesterol level.

Heat shock protein 70-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α gene polymorphisms in Chinese children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

BACKGROUND: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) or IgA-associated vasculitis is related to immune disturbances. Polymorphisms of the heat shock protein 70-2 gene (HSP70-2) and the tumor necrosis factor-a gene (TNF-α) are known to be associated with immune diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the likely association of HSP70-2 (+1267A/G) and TNF-α (+308A/G) gene polymorphisms with HSP in children. METHODS: The polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to detect the HSP70-2 and TNF-α polymorphisms in 205 cases of children with HSP and 53 controls; and the association of these polymorphisms with HSP and HSP nephritis (HSPN) was analyzed. RESULTS: The G/G genotypic frequencies at the +1267A/G position of HSP70-2 in the HSP group (22.9%) were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (9.4%) (χ(2)=4.764, P<0.05). The frequencies of the A/A, A/G and G/G genotypes of HSP70-2 in patients in the nephritis-free group and the HSPN group showed no statistically significant difference. The A/A genotype frequency at the +308G/A position of TNF-α in the HSP group was 8.3%, which was higher than that in the control group (χ(2)=6.447, P<0.05). The A allele frequency of TNF-α in the HSP group was higher than that in the control group, with a statistically significant difference (χ(2)=7.241, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The HSP70-2 (+1267A/G) and TNF-α (+308G/A) gene polymorphisms were associated with HSP in children. The G/G homozygosity of HSP70-2 and the A/A homozygosity of TNF-α may be genetic predisposing factors for HSP.

Use of off-label nephrology-related drugs in hospitalized pediatric patients: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The information about the use of off-label drugs in pediatric nephrology is still lacking, which leads to increased adverse reactions and medical disputes. We retrospectively analyzed the use of off-label drugs in the in-patient ward of the nephrology department of Nanjing Children's Hospital, China in order to provide more complete information about the use of drugs for children. METHODS: Proportional stratified random sampling was applied to select patients with renal diseases aged 1 month to 18 years, who were admitted to the hospital from October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013. All nephrology-related drugs prescribed in the hospitalization period and take-home drugs prescribed on discharge were recorded and evaluated as off-label drugs or not from three different perspectives: person-time, prescription, and drug category. RESULTS: From 385 person-times of patients with 1424 prescriptions, according to the ratio between off-label drugs and person-times, drug prescriptions, and drug products, the rates of off-label drugs were 40.78%, 16.64%, and 31.43%, respectively. Low-molecular-weight heparin, alfacalcidol and diltiazem were the most commonly used off-label drugs. Infants and younger children were the high-risk population of off-label drug use. The high rate off-label nephrology-related drug use in children was mainly related to lacking clinical research into drugs in children and the pace of drug label's revision, which cannot follow the development of medical science. CONCLUSION: Approximaely half of pediatric patients with renal diseases are usually prescribed with off-label nephrology-related drugs. Analyzing the off-label conditions from different perspectives may lead to various results. More clinical research into drugs for infants and younger children is needed so as to update drug descriptions.

[Clinical and immunological features of lupus nephritis in children: retrospective analysis of 40 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical and immunological features of children with lupus nephritis (LN). METHODS: Chart records of 40 (4 male and 36 female) LN children who were admitted consecutively between January, 2005 and December, 2010 were reviewed. The baseline demographic, pathological and immunological data were analyzed. RESULTS: In the 40 LN patients analyzed, the mean age of the disease onset was 10.6 ± 2.6 (range from 2.6 to 14.3) years, and 35 cases (88%) were school-age children. Proteinuria was detected in all 40 cases, including nephrotic-range proteinuria in 12 (30%) cases, and isolated proteinuria in 9 (22%) cases. Twenty-six (65%) patients had varying degrees of hematuria. Acute nephritis was the most common sub-type, accounting for 47% of the total cases. Among the 39 cases undergoing renal biopsy, 3 were unclassified and the remaining 36 were classified, respectively, as type IV LN (50%, 18 cases), type II LN (22%, 8 cases). In the histopathologcally classified case, 100% were antinuclear antibody-positive, 61% were anti-dsDNA-positive, and 89% showed varying degrees of decrease in serum C3 and C4 concentrations. Following treatment for 6 months, a high LN remission rate (95%) was achieved; the acute renal activity index remained higher in IV, V+III and V+IV subtypes than in other subtypes, while the chronic index and the degree of tubulointerstitial damage were not different between histopathological subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical manifestations of LN children are diverse. Clinically, acute nephritis is the most common form of LN in children. Histopathologically, type IV is the most frequent subtype of LN. Early treatment may result in significant disease remission.

SP600125, an inhibitor of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, blocks expression of angiotensin II-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in human mesangial cells.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the role of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, in the expression of angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and transforming growth factor-1 (TGF-1), and in the production of fibronectin (FN), by human mesangial cells (HMCs). METHODS: JNK activation in cultured human mesangial cells was determined by Western blotting with an antibody against the phosphorylated Ser63 residue of c-Jun. Binding of the activator protein (AP-1) to the MCP-1 AP-1 motif was detected via the electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). The transient luciferase reporter was used to examine MCP-1 promoter activity; an RNase protection assay and ELISA were used respectively to detect the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and production of MCP-1, TGF-beta and FN. RESULTS: Anthra (1,9-cd) pyrazol-6(2H)-one (SP600125), a pharmacological inhibitor of JNK, almost completely abolished Ang II-induced Ser63 phosphorylation of c-Jun at concentrations of 5-20 micromol/L: JNK activity was reduced by 75% with 10 micromol/L SP600125, and by 90% with 20 micromol/L. Ang II increased AP-1 binding to the MCP-1 AP-1 motif in a time-dependent manner, as detected by EMSA, while SP600125 effectively blocked this increased AP-1 binding in a concentration-dependent manner. Treatment with 100 nmol/L Ang II led to a steady increase in MCP-1 mRNA expression, and to an enhanced production of MCP-1, TGF-beta and FN. These effects were blocked by SP60025 in a dose-dependent manner. SP600125 also reduced MCP-1 mRNA stability: the halflife of MCP-1 mRNA was approximately 5 hours in cells treated with Ang II only, but was reduced to 2 hours when treated with a combination of Ang II and SP600125. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the JNK/AP-1 pathway is involved in the expression of MCP-1 and TGF-beta, and in extracellular matrix production. JNK is an important therapeutic target for glomerulonephritis and glomerulosclerosis.

[NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species involved in angiotensin II-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in mesangial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the origin of oxidative stress induced by angiotensin II (AngII) in human mesangial cells and the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in AngII-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression. METHODS: MCP-1 expression was determined by real time RT-PCR. ROS production was measured by DCFDA fluorescence. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity was examined by lucigenin chemiluminescence. p47phox and p67phox translocation was assayed by Western blot. Twenty-four male mice were randomly divided into three groups: the control, the AngIIinfusion [AngII 400 ng/(kg.min)], and the apocynin treatment. AngII was infused by subcutaneously osmotic minipump for 14 days. Urinary albumin and 8-isoprostane excretion were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: In cultured human mesangial cells, AngII induced the MCP-1 expression in a dose-dependent manner with 3.56 fold increase as compared with the control. AngII increased intracellular ROS production as early as 3 min with the peak at 60 min and was in a time and dose-dependent. Incubation with different dosages of AngII (1 nmol/L, 10 nmol/L, and 100 nmol/L AngII) for 60 min, ROS production increased at 1.82, 2.92, and 4.08 folds respectively. AngII-induced ROS generation was sensitive to diphenyleneiodonium sulfate (DPI, 10 micromol/L) and apocynin (500 micromol/L), two structurally distinct NADPH oxidase inhibitors. In contrast, inhibitors of other oxidant-producing enzymes, including the mitochondrial complex Iinhibitor rotenone, the xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguiaretic acid, the cytochrome P450 oxygenase inhibitor ketoconazole and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester were without an effect. AngII-induced ROS generation was inhibited by the AT1 antagonist losartan (10 micromol/L) but not the AT2 antagonist PD123319 (10 micromol/L). AngII treatment induced translocation of cytosolic of p47phox and p67phox to the membrane. The antioxidants almost abolished AngII-induced MCP-1 expression. AngII infusion increased urinary and p67 translocation by 2.69-, 2.97-, and 2.67-fold, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: NADPH oxidase-derived ROS is involved in AngII-induced MCP-1 expression. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase alleviates AngII-induced renal injury.

[Effects of exogenous connective tissue growth factor on collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cells].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the role of exogenous connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in the collagen III synthesis of human renal tubular epithelial cell line HK2 in vitro. METHODS: Cultured HK2 cells were randomly assigned to three groups: placebo-control, low-dose CTGF-treated (2.5 ng/mL) and high-dose CTGF-treated groups (20 ng/mL). Cell morphological changes were observed under an inverted microscope. Collagen III alpha mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to assess the levels of intracellular collagen III alpha protein. RESULTS: After 48 hrs of low- or high- dose CTGF treatment, the appearances of HK2 cells were changed from oval to fusiform. High-dose CTGF treatment increased collagen III alpha mRNA expression (0.4461+/-0.0274 vs 0.2999+/-0.0115; P<0.05) as well as the protein expression of collagen III alpha (0.4075+/-0.0071 vs 0.3503+/-0.0136; P<0.05) compared with the placebo-control group. CONCLUSIONS: CTGF can induce morphological changes of human renal tubular epithelial cells in vitro. High concentration of CTGF may increase the synthesis of collagen III alpha.

Transfection of p27kip1 enhances radiosensitivity induced by 60Co gamma-irradiation in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line.

AIM: To study the cell cycle alterations of human hepatoma cell line HepG(2) in vitro after (60)Co gamma-irradiation and further to examine the mechanisms underlying the enhancement of radiosensitivity to gamma-irradiation in HepG(2) transiently transfected with wild type p27(kip1). METHODS: The proliferation of HepG(2) cells was evaluated with MTT assay, and the cell cycle profile and apoptosis were assessed by cell morphology, DNA fragmentation analysis and flow cytometry. HepG(2) cells were transfected with p27(kip1) wild type by using Lipofectamine (LF2000), and the expression and subcellular localization of p27(kip1) in HepG(2) were detected by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: (60)Co gamma-irradiation inhibited the growth of HepG(2) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Apoptosis of HepG(2) cells was induced 48 h after gamma ray exposure. Furthermore research was carried out to induce exogenous expression of p27(kip1) in HepG(2). The expression of p27(kip1) induced G(0)/G(1) phase arrest in HepG(2) cells. The overexpression of p27(kip1) enhanced (60)Co gamma-irradiation-induced radiosensitivity in HepG(2) cells. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of p27(kip1) is a rational approach to improve conventional radiotherapy outcomes, which may be a possible strategy for human hepatoma therapy.

[Induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in human mesangial cells by angiotensin II: role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase-c-Jun/activator protein-1 signal pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-c-Jun/activator protein-1 (AP-1) signal pathway in expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in experimental rat glomerulonephritis. METHODS: Nephrotoxic sera nephritis (NTN) was induced by injection of anti-GBM antibody into the tail veins of rats. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and non-radioactive kinase assay were used to detect the activity of AP-1 and JNK in kidneys and angiotensin II-stimulated human mesangial cells. Ribonuclear protection assay was used to detect MCP-1 expression in cultured human mesangial cells. RESULTS: Significant up-regulation of JNK and AP-1 was observed in NTN rats (3.82 +/- 0.58) folds and (5.36 +/- 0.61) folds, as compared with the controls. Supershift assay demonstrated that c-Jun and c-Fos were the predominant subunits involved. Activation of JNK and AP-1 significantly correlated with MCP-1 expression in NTN rats. Angiotensin II enhanced the expression of MCP-1 and activation of JNK and AP-1 in cultured human mesangial cells in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal stimulation seen at 100 nmol/L (20.99 +/- 4.71) folds, (6.91 +/- 1.65) folds and (7.82 +/- 1.32) folds respectively. Significant down-regulation of AP-1 activation and MCP-1 expression were observed in angiotensin II-induced human mesangial cells pretreated with JNK specific inhibitor SP600125. CONCLUSIONS: Angiotensin II and MCP-1 may play an important role in glomerulosclerosis via the JNK-c-Jun/AP-1 signal pathway.

[Expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in experimental rat glomerulonephritis is mediated by NF-kappaB/IkappaB signal pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of NF-kappaB/IkappaB signal pathway in mediating the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in experimental rat glomerulonephritis. METHODS: Nephrotoxic serum nephritis (NTN) was induced by injection of anti-GBM antibody into the tail veins of rats. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Western Blot were used to detect the activation of NF-kappaB, nuclear translocation of p65 subunit and degradation of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta in rat renal tissue. MCP-1 expression in glomeruli and renal tubules was also assessed by immunohistochemistry and ribonuclease protection assay. This was further correlated with the activation of NF-kappaB. RESULTS: There was an obvious expression of MCP-1 in glomeruli and renal tubules. Significant up-regulation of NF-kappaB activation, nuclear translocation of p65 subunit, and degradation of IkappaBalpha and IkappaBbeta were also observed in NTN rat renal tissue, as compared to the control group. A positive correlation was noted between NF-kappaB activation and MCP-1 expression. CONCLUSIONS: NF-kappaB/IkappaB signal pathway may play an important pathogenetic role in glomerulonephritis, with mediating the expression of MCP-1.