ABSTRACT
Objective·To explore the changes of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) expression in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients' skeletal muscles. Methods·Skeletal muscle samples were collected from non-chronic kidney disease (non-CKD) patients and ESRD patients. PDH activity was detected by ELISA assay. Real-time qPCR was performed to examine gene transcription levels of PDK1-PDK4 and PDH subunits.Western blotting analysis was used to detect protein expression levels of PDK1 and PDK4. Results·There were no demographic differences between two groups of patients. Plasma creatinine and urea nitrogen were significantly elevated in ESRD group (both P<0.05), while estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin and plasma albumin in ESRD group were significantly lower than those in non-CKD group (all P<0.05).Skeletal muscle PDH activity in ESRD group was markedly lower than that in non-CKD group(P=0.014).There were no differences in PDK1-PDK4 and PDH subunits mRNA transcription levels between ESRD and non-CKD group.PDK4 protein expression was significantly higher than that in non-CKD group (P=0.000). Conclusion·The decreased PDH activity in ESRD patients' skeletal muscle may be related to up-regulation of PDK4.