Inflammation: improving understanding to prevent or ameliorate kidney diseases

Inflammatory processes are believed to play an important role in immune response to maintain tissue homeostasis by activating cellular signaling pathways and releasing inflammatory mediators in the injured tissue. Although acute inflammation can be considered protective, an uncontrolled inflammation may evolve to tissue damage, leading to chronic inflammatory diseases. Inflammation can be considered the major factor involved in the pathological progression of acute and chronic kidney diseases. Functional characteristics of this organ increase its vulnerability to developing various forms of injuries, including acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). In view of translational research, several discoveries should be considered regarding the pathogenesis of the inflammatory process, which results in the validation of biomarkers for early detection of kidney diseases. Biomarkers enable the identification of proinflammatory mediators in kidney affections, based on laboratory research applied to clinical practice. Some inflammatory molecules can be useful biomarkers for the detection and diagnosis of kidney diseases, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1 and interleukin 18.(AU)

Cistatina C sérica em cães criticamente enfermos em UTI / Cystatin C in critically ill dogs at UTI

A lesão renal aguda (IRA) é uma síndrome complexa, associada à progressão desfavorável, especialmente em cães na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) e apresenta alta morbidade e mortalidade. O diagnóstico de IRA requer combinação de testes laboratoriais, como a creatinina sérica e ureia, considerados pouco sensíveis e específicos para a detecção precoce de graus discretos durante a perda de função renal. O biomarcador cistatina C é considerado superior por apresentar uma melhor correlação com a taxa de filtração glomerular. No entanto, existem poucos estudos que demonstram a utilidade da cistatina C em cães na UTI. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a cistatina C com o nível sérico de creatinina para detectar o estágio inicial da IRA em cães em terapia intensiva. As dosagens desses analitos foram realizadas no momento da admissão, 24 e 48 horas após. A cistatina C apresentou concentrações mais elevadas em 78,6%, enquanto a creatinina sérica aumentou apenas em 28,5% dos cães. Os resultados demonstraram que a cistatina C pode ser utilizada para a detecção precoce de lesão renal aguda em cães de UTIs devido à sua maior sensibilidade em relação aos marcadores tradicionais.(AU)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex syndrome, associated with unfavorable progression, especially in dogs in the intensive care unit (ICU), and presents high morbidity and mortality. The diagnosis of AKI requires a combination of laboratory tests, such as serum creatinine and urea, considered to be poorly sensitive and specific for the early detection of discrete degrees during loss of renal function. The biomarker cystatin C is considered superior because it has a better correlation with the glomerular filtration rate. However, there are few studies that demonstrate the utility of cystatin C in dogs in ICU. The objective of this study was to compare cystatin C to creatinine serum level to detect early stage of AKI in dogs in an intensive care. Measurements of these analytes were performed at the time of admission, 24 and 48 hours after. Serum cystatin C presented higher concentrations in 78.6% while serum creatinina elevated in only 28.5% of the dogs. The results demonstrated that cystatin C can be used for the early detection of acute kidney injury in dogs in ICUs because of its greater sensitivity compared to traditional markers.(AU)

Aspectos histopatológicos das lesões renais em gatos experimentalmente infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência felina / Histopathological aspects of renal lesions in cats experimentally infected with feline immunodeficiency virus

A infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV) em gatos domésticos é caracterizada por distúrbios imunológicos, que geralmente se manifestam tardiamente na doença. Semelhante à infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) em humanos, a infecção pelo FIV geralmente está associada a infecções oportunistas e ao desenvolvimento progressivo de nefropatia. Portanto, o objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar as alterações histopatológicas em rins de 10 gatos experimentalmente infectados pelo FIV submetidos a eutanásia 60 meses após a inoculação viral. Nos rins de 100% dos gatos infectados pelo FIV foram visualizadas lesões glomerulares e tubulointersticiais. As lesões glomerulares eram caracterizadas principalmente por espessamento global ou segmentar da membrana basal glomerular (glomerulonefrite membranosa). Glomeruloesclerose e, em dois casos, proliferação de células epiteliais intraglomerulares (crescente glomerular), também foram observados. Nefrite intersticial linfoplasmocítica foi a alteração tubulointersticial mais frequente, visualizada em diferentes intensidades nos rins de 100% dos gatos. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstram que o tempo prolongado entre a infecção e a avaliação histopatológica pode ter sido decisivo para o surgimento das lesões renais em todos os gatos infectados pelo FIV e para o agravamento dessas lesões em alguns gatos...

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection in domestic cats is characterized by immunological disorders that commonly manifest in a later stage of the disease. Similarly to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in humans, FIV infection is commonly associated with opportunistic infections and progressive development of nephropathies. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to perform histological evaluation of the kidneys of 10 cats experimentally infected with FIV and euthanized at 60 months after viral inoculation. In the kidneys of 100% of the cats infected with FIV, glomerular and tubulointerstitial lesions were seen. The glomerular lesions were mainly characterized by global or segmental thickening of the glomerular basement membrane (membranous glomerulonephritis). Glomerulosclerosis, and in two cases, proliferation of intraglomerular epithelial cells (glomerular crescent) were also observed. The intersticial lymphoplasmacytic nephritis was the tubulointerstitial alteration most frequent and was observed in different intensity levels in 100% of the cats. The results of the present study demonstrate that the prolonged time between infection and histopathological evaluation may have been decisive for the arising of renal lesions in all cats infected with FIV and for the increase of these lesions in some cats...

study on the effect of some anti-oxidants and angiotensin in converting enzyme inhibitors on some renal functions and predicative changes in glycerol-induced acute renal failure in the rat

The present work was designed to evaluate the effects of some antioxidants; vitamin E, vitamin C, deferoxamine and the ACE inhibitors [captopril and enalapril] on renal functions and peroxidative changes in glycerol-induced ARF in the rat. Drugs were given before and after induction of ARF by im injection of hypertonic glycerol solution. Serum and urinary urea, creatinine concentrations, urinary/serum urea and creatinine ratios, creatinine clearance, serum malondialdehyde as well as renal reduced glutathione concentrations were estimated. All the above mentioned drugs showed a significant renoprotective effect by improving the marked deterioration of the estimated kidney function tests in the uremic rats