Activity and short-term outcomes of kidney transplantation during the COVID-19 pandemic. / Actividad y resultados a corto plazo del trasplante renal durante la pandemia COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the national transplant activity has been reduced due to the overload of the health system and concern for patient safety in this situation. The aim of our work is to expose the activity of kidney transplantation in Cantabria during the state of alarm, as well as to assess the safety of the transplantation program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of kidney transplants performed in our Center from the beginning of the state of alarm until the beginning of the lockdown easing in Cantabria. Descriptive analysis of the demographic data of recipients and their donors, intraoperative data and postoperative outcomes. Comparative analysis with the data of the same period in 2017-2019, by means of the χ2 for categorical variables, Student's T and Mann-Whitney U tests in case of quantitative variables of normal and non-normal distribution, respectively. RESULTS: Fifteen kidney transplants were performed in the period described. Delayed renal function (DRF) was seen in 7.5% of patients, and 26.6% showed data of acute rejection; no patient presented COVID-19 disease. Comparative analysis showed a remarkable increase in the number of transplants in comparison with previous periods (15 vs 5.6), at the expense of donors from outside Cantabria (93.3%). We found no statistically significant differences in terms of cold ischemia time (p=0.77), DRF (p=0.73), need for dialysis (p=0.54), or appearance of post-surgical complications (p=0.61). CONCLUSIONS: The evolution of the pandemic in our region, and the adoption of strict protective measures has allowed the early and safe resumption of the renal transplantation program, increasing the number of transplants performed compared to previous years and maintaining comparable early post-operative results.

Circulating FH Protects Kidneys From Tubular Injury During Systemic Hemolysis.

Intravascular hemolysis of any cause can induce acute kidney injury (AKI). Hemolysis-derived product heme activates the innate immune complement system and contributes to renal damage. Therefore, we explored the role of the master complement regulator Factor H (FH) in the kidney's resistance to hemolysis-mediated AKI. Acute systemic hemolysis was induced in mice lacking liver expression of FH (hepatoFH-/-, ~20% residual FH) and in WT controls, by phenylhydrazine injection. The impaired complement regulation in hepatoFH-/- mice resulted in a delayed but aggravated phenotype of hemolysis-related kidney injuries. Plasma urea as well as markers for tubular (NGAL, Kim-1) and vascular aggression peaked at day 1 in WT mice and normalized at day 2, while they increased more in hepatoFH-/- compared to the WT and still persisted at day 4. These were accompanied by exacerbated tubular dilatation and the appearance of tubular casts in the kidneys of hemolytic hepatoFH-/- mice. Complement activation in hemolytic mice occurred in the circulation and C3b/iC3b was deposited in glomeruli in both strains. Both genotypes presented with positive staining of FH in the glomeruli, but hepatoFH-/- mice had reduced staining in the tubular compartment. Despite the clear phenotype of tubular injury, no complement activation was detected in the tubulointerstitium of the phenylhydrazin-injected mice irrespective of the genotype. Nevertheless, phenylhydrazin triggered overexpression of C5aR1 in tubules, predominantly in hepatoFH-/- mice. Moreover, C5b-9 was deposited only in the glomeruli of the hemolytic hepatoFH-/- mice. Therefore, we hypothesize that C5a, generated in the glomeruli, could be filtered into the tubulointerstitium to activate C5aR1 expressed by tubular cells injured by hemolysis-derived products and will aggravate the tissue injury. Plasma-derived FH is critical for the tubular protection, since pre-treatment of the hemolytic hepatoFH-/- mice with purified FH attenuated the tubular injury. Worsening of acute tubular necrosis in the hepatoFH-/- mice was trigger-dependent, as it was also observed in LPS-induced septic AKI model but not in chemotherapy-induced AKI upon cisplatin injection. In conclusion, plasma FH plays a key role in protecting the kidneys, especially the tubules, against hemolysis-mediated injury. Thus, FH-based molecules might be explored as promising therapeutic agents in a context of AKI.

IL-17A improves the efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells in ischemic-reperfusion renal injury by increasing Treg percentages by the COX-2/PGE2 pathway.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are effective for the management of experimental ischemia-reperfusion acute kidney injury (IRI-AKI). Immune modulation is one of the important mechanisms of MSCs treatment. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) pretreated MSCs are more immunosuppressive with minimal changes in immunogenicity in vitro. Here, we demonstrated that administration of IL-17A-pretreated MSCs resulted in significantly lower acute tubular necrosis scores, serum creatinine, and BUN of mice with IRI-AKI, compared with the administration of MSCs. Of the co-cultured splenocytes, IL-17A-pretreated MSCs significantly increased the percentages of CD4+Foxp3+ Tregs and decreased concanavalin A-induced T cell proliferation. Furthermore, mice with IRI-AKI that underwent IL-17A-pretreated MSC therapy had significantly lower serum IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels, a higher serum IL-10 level, and higher spleen and kidney Treg percentages than the mice that underwent MSCs treatment. Additionally, the depletion of Tregs by PC61 (anti-CD25 antibody) reversed the enhanced treatment efficacy of the IL-17A-pretreatedMSCs on mice with IRI-AKI. Additionally, IL-17A upregulated COX-2 expression and increased PGE2 production. The blockage of COX-2 by celecoxib reversed the benefit of IL-pretreated 17A-MSCs on the serum PGE2 concentration, spleen and kidney Tregs percentages, serum creatinine and BUN levels, renal acute tubular necrosis scores, and serum IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 levels of IRI-pretreated mice with AKI, compared with MSCs. Thus, our results suggest that IL-17A pretreatment enhances the efficacy of MSCs on mice with IRI-AKI by increasing the Treg percentages through the COX-2/PGE2 pathway.

Effects of pre and post-treatments with dipyridamole in gentamicin-induced acute nephrotoxicity in the rat.

This study investigated the pretreatment and post-treatment effects of dipyridamole (20 mg/kg/day, p.o.) in gentamicin-induced acute nephrotoxicity in rats. Rats were administered gentamicin (100 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for 8 days. Gentamicin-administered rats exhibited renal structural and functional changes as assessed in terms of a significant increase in serum creatinine and urea and kidney weight to body weight ratio as compared to normal rats. Renal histopathological studies revealed a marked incidence of acute tubular necrosis in gentamicin-administered rats. These renal structural and functional abnormalities in gentamicin-administered rats were accompanied with elevated serum uric acid level, and renal inflammation as assessed in terms of decrease in interleukin-10 levels. Dipyridamole pretreatment in gentamicin-administered rats afforded a noticeable renoprotection by markedly preventing renal structural and functional abnormalities, renal inflammation and serum uric acid elevation. On the other hand, dipyridamole post-treatment did not significantly prevent uric acid elevation and renal inflammation, and resulted in comparatively less protection on renal function although it markedly reduced the incidence of tubular necrosis. In conclusion, uric acid elevation and renal inflammation could play key roles in gentamicin-nephrotoxicity. Dipyridamole pretreatment markedly prevented gentamicin-induced acute nephrotoxicity, while its post-treatment resulted in comparatively less renal functional protection.

Release of extracellular DNA influences renal ischemia reperfusion injury by platelet activation and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Acute kidney injury is often the result of ischemia reperfusion injury, which leads to activation of coagulation and inflammation, resulting in necrosis of renal tubular epithelial cells. Platelets play a central role in coagulation and inflammatory processes, and it has been shown that platelet activation exacerbates acute kidney injury. However, the mechanism of platelet activation during ischemia reperfusion injury and how platelet activation leads to tissue injury are largely unknown. Here we found that renal ischemia reperfusion injury in mice leads to increased platelet activation in immediate proximity of necrotic cell casts. Furthermore, platelet inhibition by clopidogrel decreased cell necrosis and inflammation, indicating a link between platelet activation and renal tissue damage. Necrotic tubular epithelial cells were found to release extracellular DNA, which, in turn, activated platelets, leading to platelet-granulocyte interaction and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps ex vivo. Renal ischemia reperfusion injury resulted in increased DNA-platelet and DNA-platelet-granulocyte colocalization in tissue and elevated levels of circulating extracellular DNA and platelet factor 4 in mice. After renal ischemia reperfusion injury, neutrophil extracellular traps were formed within renal tissue, which decreased when mice were treated with the platelet inhibitor clopidogrel. Thus, during renal ischemia reperfusion injury, necrotic cell-derived DNA leads to platelet activation, platelet-granulocyte interaction, and subsequent neutrophil extracellular trap formation, leading to renal inflammation and further increase in tissue injury.

Transcription factor Nrf2 hyperactivation in early-phase renal ischemia-reperfusion injury prevents tubular damage progression.

Acute kidney injury is a devastating disease with high morbidity in hospitalized patients and contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease. An underlying mechanism of acute kidney injury involves ischemia-reperfusion injury which, in turn, induces oxidative stress and provokes organ damage. Nrf2 is a master transcription factor that regulates the cellular response to oxidative stress. Here, we examined the role of Nrf2 in the progression of ischemia-reperfusion injury-induced kidney damage in mice using genetic and pharmacological approaches. Both global and tubular-specific Nrf2 activation enhanced gene expression of antioxidant and NADPH synthesis enzymes, including glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, and ameliorated both the initiation of injury in the outer medulla and the progression of tubular damage in the cortex. Myeloid-specific Nrf2 activation was ineffective. Short-term administration of the Nrf2 inducer CDDO during the initial phase of injury ameliorated the late phase of tubular damage. This inducer effectively protected the human proximal tubular cell line HK-2 from oxidative stress-mediated cell death while glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase knockdown increased intracellular reactive oxygen species. These findings demonstrate that tubular hyperactivation of Nrf2 in the initial phase of injury prevents the progression of reactive oxygen species-mediated tubular damage by inducing antioxidant enzymes and NADPH synthesis. Thus, Nrf2 may be a promising therapeutic target for preventing acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease transition.

Marcadores biológicos para necrose tubular aguda em pacientes com doença glomerular / Biological markers for acute tubular necrosis in patients with glomerular disease

INTRODUCTION: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS), and it is reported in 34% of adults with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Emergence of AKI in the course of nephrotic syndrome requires a prompt differential diagnosis between acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and proliferative glomerular lesions leading to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. Although clinical and conventional laboratory clues can be decisive in many cases, sometimes such distinctions rely on renal biopsy, which is an invasive procedure and is not available in many centers. Several new biomarkers have emerged, increasing the perspective on early diagnosis and the prognostic prediction of AKI. OBJECTIVES: In this work, we studied the use of tests based on the urinary concentrations of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1)...

INTRODUÇÃO: A lesão renal aguda (LRA) é uma complicação frequente em pacientes com glomerulopatias, acomentendo até 34% dos adultos com síndrome nefrótica (SNO) idiopática. O diagnóstico diferencial de necrose tubular aguda (NTA) de glomeulonefrite proliferativa ou crescêntica em pacientes com SNO e LRA é fundamental, visto que a NTA pode mimetizar quadro de glomerulonefrite rapidamente progressiva. Dados clínicos e laboratoriais podem ser úteis no diagnóstico diferencial da LRA na SNO, entretanto a distinção entre NTA e glomerulonefrite proliferativa ou crescêntica é feito pela biópsia renal, procedimento invasivo e que não está disponível amplamente. Novos biomarcadores para diagnóstico precoce e preditores diagnósticos na LRA têm sido identificados. OBJETIVOS: Neste trabalho nós avaliamos o uso de testes baseados nas concentrações urinárias de kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1)...

Isquemia fría y supervivencia del injerto. Diferencias entre el primer y segundo injerto de un mismo donante / Cold ischemia and renal graft survival: A paired analysis comparing first and second grafts from the same donor

OBJETIVO: Comparar las características, evolución y supervivencia de las parejas renales procedentes de un mismo donante, con especial interés en el tiempo de isquemia fría (TIF) como factor de riesgo de supervivencia del injerto. MÉTODOS: A partir de nuestra base de datos de trasplantados renales, realizada de forma prospectiva desde 1987 hasta 2015, seleccionamos aquellos injertos emparejados procedentes de un mismo donante cadáver y los dividimos en dos grupos según correspondieran al primer o al segundo injerto. RESULTADOS: Estudiamos un total de 860 riñones emparejados. El TIF medio del primer y segundo grupo fue de 15,12 y 19,16 horas respectivamente. En el segundo grupo se observó una mayor incidencia de necrosis tubular aguda (NTA) y función inicial retrasada del injerto (FRI) (59,9% vs 69,4%; y 54,9% vs 63,5%, respectivamente p < 0,001). No se observaron diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos en las cifras de aclaramiento de creatinina o en la tasa de paso a diálisis. En términos de supervivencia del injerto, no se encontraron diferencias entre el primer y el segundo grupo (18,4 vs 18,1 años respectivamente, Log-rank p = 0,667). Adicionalmente se estudio la isquemia fría del conjunto de injertos, sin apreciar diferencias según su TIF (<14, 14-17, 17-20, >20 horas), el cual no se comportó como un factor de riesgo de supervivencia del injerto (HR=1.014 (p = 0,312)). CONCLUSIONES: La proporción de NTA y FRI es mayor en los segundos trasplantados. Sin embargo, no existen diferencias en términos de supervivencia del injerto a largo plazo. No encontramos evidencia de que un TIF por debajo de 24h se comporte como un factor de riesgo de supervivencia del injerto

OBJECTIVE: To compare the characteristics, clinical course, and survival of pairs of renal grafts from the same donor, with special interest in cold ischemia times (CIT) as a risk factor for graft survival. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed paired grafts originating from the same cadaver donor from our prospectively recorded database of kidney transplants, from 1987 to 2015. We selected and divided them into two groups depending on whether they corresponded to the first or second graft. RESULTS: We studied a total of 860 paired kidneys. Mean CIT for the first and second groups were 15.12 and 19.16 hours, respectively. In the second group we observed higher incidences of acute tubular necrosis and initial delayed graft function (59.9% vs. 69.4% and 54.9% vs. 63.5%, respectively; p20 hours). For the set of grafts studied, CIT did not act as a risk factor for graft survival (hazard ratio [HR]=1.014; p = 0.312). CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of ATN and DGF were greater in second transplants. However, there were no differences in long-term graft survival. Furthermore, we found no evidence that a CIT for less than 24 hours acted as a risk factor to graft survival

Remote Ischemic Preconditioning and Contrast-Induced Nephropathy: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The use of imaging is increasing in clinical practice either for diagnosis or intervention. In these aims, contrast medium (CM) is widely used. However, CM administration can induce contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). The incidence of CIN varies from 2% to 50% depending on patient risk factors, and CIN is the third cause of renal insufficiency. To date, methods such as hyperhydration to prevent CIN have a low level of evidence. Remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC), which has already proved its efficiency in the cardiology field, seems to be a promising technique for CIN prevention. The aim of this work was to carry out a systematic review of the literature of the randomized clinical studies on RIPC in the prevention of CIN in man. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical studies on the RIPC in the prevention of CIN in man. Documentary sources were PubMed articles published until June 2015. Randomized clinical trials of RIPC in preventing CIN in human were reviewed. RESULTS: Five articles were selected for the analysis. One article studied the impact of RIPC in a population at high risk of CIN, whereas the other 4 analyzed populations at low, moderate or unknown risk of CIN. In 4 studies, except the later one, the risk of CIN was based on the Mehran score that was previously published. In the high-risk population, a decrease in the incidence of CIN was found in the RIPC group compared with the control group (12% against 40%; P = 0.002). Among the 3 other studies using the Mehran's score, one also demonstrated the interest of such a procedure in a subgroup of high-risk patients. A second one found a low incidence of CIN in the RIPC group ([5 of 47; 10%] as compared with a control group [17 of 47; 36%] P = 0.003) in patients at the low risk of CIN. In another low-risk population, a significant lower level of a biological marker (liver-type fatty acid-binding protein) that assesses a renal impairment was found in the RIPC compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Only 5 studies were found in this search, which may constitute a limitation. However, RIPC appears as a promising method to prevent CIN since it is a noninvasive, low cost, easy, and safe method. More randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Marcadores de necrose tubular aguda e lesão inflamatória glomerular no sedimento urinária de pacientes com síndrome / Acute tubular necrosis markers and inflammatory glomerular injury urinary sediment syndrome patients

Necrose tubular aguda (NTA) é a causa mais frequente de lesão renal aguda (LRA) em pacientes hospitalizados. Em pacientes com síndrome nefrótica (SNO), a NTA mimetiza, por vezes, quadro de glomerulonefrite rapidamente progressiva e requer instituição precoce de imunossupressores. A análise do sedimento urinário é uma ferramenta não invasiva, de baixo custo e ampla disponibilidade. O achado de células epiteliais no sedimento urinário de pacientes com LRA foi associado ao diagnóstico de NTA. Entretanto, estudos em pacientes com SNO associada são escassos. Técnicas de diagnóstico utilizando sedimento urinário corado normalmente não são utilizadas nesses casos. Além do mais, o sedimento urinário é uma importante fonte de proteínas; estudos proteômicos do sedimento urinário revelaram importantes frações de proteínas não encontradas em sobrenadante, que pode ser usado como potencial biomarcador de LRA. Nosso objetivo é identificar alterações citológicas e protéicas no sedimento urinário que permitam o diagnóstico diferencial entre NTA ou lesão inflamatória-proliferativa glomerular (INF) em pacientes com SNO. Trata-se de um estudo de corte transversal, onde foram incluídos 32 pacientes: 5 pacientes normais (grupo controle), 10 com NTA, 9 sem NTA e 8 com glomerulonefrites exsudativas. As células do sedimento urinário foram contadas, citocentrifugadas, coradas em hematoxilina/eosina ou Papanicolaou e contadas diferencialmente como pequenas (<30μm de diâmetro), médias (30-48μm)...

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is the most frequent cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized patients. In patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS), acute tubular necrosis mimic, sometimes, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and requires premature institution of immunosuppressive treatment. The analysis of urinary sediment is a noninvasive tool, low cost and wide availability. The found of epithelial cells in the urinary sediment of patients with AKI was associated to ATN diagnosis. However, studies in patients with AKI in the set of NS are scarce. Diagnostics techniques using stained urinary sediment are not ordinarily used in these cases. Furthermore, urinary sediment is an important source of proteins; proteomic studies revealed important fractions of proteins not found in urinary supernatant that could be used as potential biomarkers for AKI. Our goal is identify cytological alterations and protein in urinary sediment which allow the differential diagnosis between ATN and inflammatory-proliferative glomerular lesion (INF) in patients with NS. This is a cross sectional study, in which 32 patients were included: 5 normal patients (control group), 10 with ATN, 9 without ATN and 8 with exudative glomerulonephritis. The cells of urinary sediment were counted, cytocentrifuged, stained of hematoxylin/eosin or Papanicolaou and differentially counted as small (<30μm of diameter), medium (30-48μm)...

Sulforaphane pretreatment prevents systemic inflammation and renal injury in response to cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVES: Systemic inflammatory responses are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for systemic inflammation in response to cardiopulmonary bypass are poorly understood. METHODS: A porcine model was established to study the signaling pathways that promote systemic inflammation in response to cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass under well-controlled experimental conditions. The influence of sulforaphane, an anti-inflammatory compound derived from green vegetables, on inflammation and injury in response to cardiopulmonary bypass was also studied. Intracellular staining and flow cytometry were performed to measure phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB in granulocytes and mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass for 1 to 2 hours enhanced phosphorylation of p38 (2.5-fold) and nuclear factor-κB (1.6-fold) in circulating mononuclear cells. Cardiopulmonary bypass also modified granulocytes by activating nuclear factor-κB (1.6-fold), whereas p38 was not altered. Histologic analyses revealed that cardiopulmonary bypass promoted acute tubular necrosis. Pretreatment of animals with sulforaphane reduced p38 (90% reduction) and nuclear factor-κB (50% reduction) phosphorylation in leukocytes and protected kidneys from injury. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic inflammatory responses after cardiopulmonary bypass were associated with activation of p38 and nuclear factor-κB pathways in circulating leukocytes. Inflammatory responses to cardiopulmonary bypass can be reduced by sulforaphane, which reduced leukocyte activation and protected against renal injury.

PARP inhibition attenuates histopathological lesion in ischemia/reperfusion renal mouse model after cold prolonged ischemia.

We test the hypothesis that PARP inhibition can decrease acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and other renal lesions related to prolonged cold ischemia/reperfusion (IR) in kidneys preserved at 4°C in University of Wisconsin (UW) solution. Material and Methods. We used 30 male Parp1(+/+) wild-type and 15 male Parp1(0/0) knockout C57BL/6 mice. Fifteen of these wild-type mice were pretreated with 3,4-dihydro-5-[4-(1-piperidinyl)butoxyl]-1(2H)-isoquinolinone (DPQ) at a concentration of 15 mg/kg body weight, used as PARP inhibitor. Subgroups of mice were established (A: IR 45 min/6 h; B: IR + 48 h in UW solution; and C: IR + 48 h in UW solution plus DPQ). We processed samples for morphological, immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and western-blotting studies. Results. Prolonged cold ischemia time in UW solution increased PARP-1 expression and kidney injury. Preconditioning with PARP inhibitor DPQ plus DPQ supplementation in UW solution decreased PARP-1 nuclear expression in renal tubules and renal damage. Parp1(0/0) knockout mice were more resistant to IR-induced renal lesion. In conclusion, PARP inhibition attenuates ATN and other IR-related renal lesions in mouse kidneys under prolonged cold storage in UW solution. If confirmed, these data suggest that pharmacological manipulation of PARP activity may have salutary effects in cold-stored organs at transplantation.

Renalase protects against ischemic AKI.

Elevated levels of plasma catecholamines accompany ischemic AKI, possibly contributing the inflammatory response. Renalase, an amine oxidase secreted by the proximal tubule, degrades circulating catecholamines and reduces myocardial necrosis, suggesting that it may protect against renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Here, mice subjected to renal ischemia reperfusion injury had significantly lower levels of renalase in the plasma and kidney compared with sham-operated mice. Consistent with this, plasma NE levels increased significantly after renal ischemia reperfusion injury. Furthermore, renal tubular inflammation, necrosis, and apoptosis were more severe and plasma catecholamine levels were higher in renalase-deficient mice subjected to renal ischemia reperfusion compared with wild-type mice. Administration of recombinant human renalase reduced plasma catecholamine levels and ameliorated ischemic AKI in wild-type mice. Taken together, these data suggest that renalase protects against ischemic AKI by reducing renal tubular necrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation, and that plasma renalase might be a biomarker for AKI. Recombinant renalase therapy may have potential for the prevention and treatment of AKI.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone ameliorates acute kidney injury by steroidogenic-dependent and -independent mechanisms.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) has a renoprotective effect in chronic kidney disease; however, its effect on acute kidney injury (AKI) remains unknown. In a rat model of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced AKI, we found that ACTH gel prevented kidney injury, corrected acute renal dysfunction, and improved survival. Morphologically, ACTH gel ameliorated TNF-induced acute tubular necrosis, associated with a reduction in tubular apoptosis. While the steroidogenic response to ACTH gel plateaued, the kidney-protective effect continued to increase at even higher doses, suggesting steroid-independent mechanisms. Of note, ACTH also acts as a key agonist of the melanocortin system, with its cognate melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) abundantly expressed in renal tubules. In TNF-injured tubular epithelial cells in vitro, ACTH reinstated cellular viability and eliminated apoptosis. This beneficial effect was blunted in MC1R-silenced cells, suggesting that this receptor mediates the anti-apoptotic signaling of ACTH. Moreover, ACTH gel protected mice against cecal ligation puncture-induced septic AKI better than α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone: a protein equal in biological activity to ACTH except for steroidogenesis. Thus, ACTH has additive renoprotective actions achieved by both steroid-dependent mechanisms and MC1R-directed anti-apoptosis. ACTH may represent a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat AKI.

Endogenous and exogenous pentraxin-3 limits postischemic acute and chronic kidney injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion activates innate immunity and sterile inflammation, resulting in acute kidney injury. Since pentraxin 3 (PTX3) regulates multiple aspects of innate immunity and tissue inflammation, we tested whether PTX3 would be involved in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Renal pedicle clamping increased PTX3 serum levels, as well as PTX3 expression, inside the kidney but predominantly in CD45/CD11c(+) cells, a subpopulation of intrarenal mononuclear phagocytes. Lack of PTX3 aggravated postischemic acute kidney injury as evidenced by massive tubular necrosis, and TNF and IL-6 release, as well as massively increased neutrophil and macrophage infiltrates at 24 h. This was followed by tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and kidney shrinking 10 weeks later. In vivo microscopy uncovered increased leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in postischemic microvessels of Ptx3-deficient mice. Furthermore, injection of recombinant PTX3 up to 6 h after reperfusion prevented renal leukocyte recruitment and postischemic kidney injury. Thus, local PTX3 release from a subpopulation of intrarenal mononuclear phagocytes or delayed PTX3 treatment limits postischemic renal inflammation. Conversely, Ptx3 loss-of-function mutations predispose to postischemic acute kidney injury and subsequent chronic kidney disease.

Probenecid prevents acute tubular necrosis in a mouse model of aristolochic acid nephropathy.

Experimental aristolochic acid nephropathy is characterized by early tubulointerstitial injury followed by fibrosis, reproducing chronic lesions seen in humans. In vitro, probenecid inhibits aristolochic acid entry through organic anion transporters, reduces specific aristolochic acid-DNA adduct formation, and preserves cellular viability. To test this in vivo, we used a mouse model of aristolochic acid nephropathy displaying severe tubulointerstitial injuries consisting of proximal tubular epithelial cell necrosis associated to transient acute kidney injury followed by mononuclear cell infiltration, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. Treatment with probenecid prevented increased plasma creatinine and tubulointerstitial injuries, and reduced both the extent and the severity of ultrastructural lesions induced by aristolochic acid, such as the loss of brush border, mitochondrial edema, and the disappearance of mitochondrial crests. Further, the number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and total aristolochic acid-DNA adducts were significantly reduced in mice receiving aristolochic acid plus probenecid compared with mice treated with aristolochic acid alone. Thus, we establish the nephroprotective effect of probenecid, an inhibitor of organic acid transporters, in vivo toward acute proximal tubular epithelial cell toxicity in a mouse model of aristolochic acid nephropathy.

Effects of adipose-derived mesenchymal cells on ischemia-reperfusion injury in kidney.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a critical condition for kidney and other remote organs, including the lung. However, available treatments for AKI are limited. In this study, we explored the effect of adipose-derived mesenchymal cells on a mouse model of AKI. METHODS: Adipose-derived mesenchymal cells were isolated from mouse subcutaneous and peritoneal adipose tissue by digestion with collagenase type I. The left renal artery and vein of C57BL/6 mice were clamped for 45 min to induce ischemia and were injected with the adipose-derived mesenchymal cells [1 × 10(5) cells/0.2 ml phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)] or 0.2 ml PBS via the tail vein on days 0, 1, and 2. RESULTS: The adipose-derived mesenchymal cells had stem-cell surface markers and multilineage differentiating potentials. Administered adipose-derived mesenchymal cells homed primarily into lung. Interestingly, repeated administration of adipose-derived mesenchymal cells reduced acute tubular necrosis and interstitial macrophage infiltration in the injured kidney, accompanied with reduced cytokine and chemokine expression. CONCLUSION: Adipose-derived mesenchymal cells can be used as cell-based therapy for ischemic kidney injury.

Montelukast abrogates rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure via rectifying detrimental changes in antioxidant profile and systemic cytokines and apoptotic factors production.

In addition to antiasthmatic effect, the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1) antagonist montelukast shows renoprotective effect during ischemia/reperfusion and cyclosporine-induced renal damage. Here, we proposed that montelukast protects against rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure. Compared with saline-treated rats, at 48 h following the induction of rhabdomyolysis using intramuscular glycerol (10 ml 50% glycerol/kg), significant elevations in serum levels of urea, creatinine, phosphate and acute renal tubular necrosis were observed. This was associated with elevations in serum Fas, interleukin-10, tumor necrotic factor-alpha, and transforming growth factor-beta1 and renal malondialdehyde and nitrite and detrimental reductions in renal catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. The effects of rhabdomyolysis on renal functional, biochemical and structural integrity and the associated changes in cytokines and Fas levels were abolished upon concurrent administration of montelukast (10 mg/kg i.p.) for 3 days (1 day before and 2 days after induction of rhabdomyolysis). Alternatively, administration of the anti-oxidant, α-tocopherol (400 mg/kg i.m.) for 3 days, succeeded in alleviating renal oxidative stress, but had no significant effect on the circulating levels of most cytokines and partially restored kidney functional and structural damage. Serum level of interleukin-6 was not altered by rhabdomyolysis but showed significant elevations in rats treated with montelukast or α-tocopherol. Collectively, motelukast abrogated functional and structural renal damage induced by rhabdomyolysis via ameliorating renal oxidative stress and modulation of systemic cytokines and apoptotic factors production. The results of this work are expected to open new avenues for early prevention of rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure using selective CysLT1 antagonists such as montelukast.

Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3ß prevents NSAID-induced acute kidney injury.

Clinical use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like diclofenac (DCLF) is limited by multiple adverse effects, including renal toxicity leading to acute kidney injury. In mice with DCLF-induced nephrotoxicity, TDZD-8, a selective glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3ß inhibitor, improved acute kidney dysfunction and ameliorated tubular necrosis and apoptosis associated with induced cortical expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and prostaglandin E2. This renoprotective effect was blunted but still largely preserved in COX-2-null mice, suggesting that other GSK3ß targets beyond COX-2 functioned in renal protection. Indeed, TDZD-8 diminished the mitochondrial permeability transition in DCLF-injured kidneys. In vitro, GSK3ß inhibition reinstated viability and suppressed necrosis and apoptosis in DCLF-stimulated tubular epithelial cells. DCLF elicited oxidative stress, enhanced the activity of the redox-sensitive GSK3ß, and promoted a mitochondrial permeability transition by interacting with cyclophilin D, a key component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. TDZD-8 blocked GSK3ß activity and prevented GSK3ß-mediated cyclophilin D phosphorylation and the ensuing mitochondrial permeability transition, concomitant with normalization of intracellular ATP. Conversely, ectopic expression of a constitutively active GSK3ß abolished the effects of TDZD-8. Hence, inhibition of GSK3ß ameliorates NSAID-induced acute kidney injury by induction of renal cortical COX-2 and direct inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition.

Effect of stem cell factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor-induced bone marrow stem cell mobilization on recovery from acute tubular necrosis in rats.

BACKGROUND: Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is the most common reason for acute kidney injury (AKI), and there is still an absence of effective therapies. OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of bone marrow cell mobilization by stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) therapy in rats with gentamicin-induced ATN. METHODS: ATN was induced in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats with five daily high-dose intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin. Subcutaneous injections of SCF and GM-CSF were administered simultaneously and these cytokines were observed on days 2, 5, 10, 17, 24, and 31. Peripheral blood and renal tissue CD34+ cell count, mortality rate, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), creatinine clearance rate (CCr), and histopathologic lesion scores were determined. Twelve hours after bone marrow ablation (BMA) by lethal X-ray radiation, specific pathogen-free (SPF) ATN rats were given five daily injections of SCF and GM-CSF. BUN, SCr, and histopathologic lesion scores were evaluated on days 2, 5, and 10. RESULTS: Peripheral blood CD34+ cell count increased significantly in ATN rats between 2 and 10 days after SCF and GM-CSF injection. Mortality was reduced from 34.7% in the ATN group to 18.6% in the ATN+CSF. In addition, cytokines administration significantly decreased SCr and BUN. Moreover, cytokines rapidly ameliorated tubular injury. There was no significant effect on ATN rats after BMA. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that SCF and GM-CSF effectively mobilized bone marrow cells in ATN rats, and cytokines administration partially prevented gentamicin-induced ATN. These results suggest that bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) mobilization may be an effective therapy for ATN.