Interleukin-13 Increases Podocyte Apoptosis in Cultured Human Podocytes

PURPOSE: Podocytes are important architectures that maintain the crucial roles of glomerular filtration barrier functions. Despite this structural importance, however, the mechanisms of the changes in podocytes that can be an important pathogenesis of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) are not clear yet. The aim of this study was to investigate whether apoptosis is induced by interleukin (IL)-13 in cultured human podocytes. METHODS: Human podocytes were treated with different IL-13 doses and apoptotic cells were analyzed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL assay) and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). RESULTS: The IL-13 increased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in a dose-dependent manner at 6 and 18 hours (P<0.05 and P<0.05, respectively). The apoptosis rate was appeared to be increased slightly in the IL-13-stimulated podocytes (8.63%, 13.02%, and 14.46%; 3, 10 and 30 ng/mL, respectively) than in the control cells (7.66%) at 12 hours by FACS assay. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that IL-13 expression may increase podocyte apoptosis. Blocking the IL-13 signal pathway can potentially play an important role in regulating the apoptosis of podocytes.

To assess the reduction in bone mineral density among children who completed steroid therapy for nephrotic syndrome

Introduction: Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome is the most common type of nephrotic syndrome accounting for 85% of cases. It is the most common primary or idiopathic type of nephrotic syndrome in children. It occurs between 1 to 12 years of age, but most commonly 2 to 6 years. Even though the majority of cases show remission of nephrotic syndrome, the hypocalcemia due to Glucocorticoids are very severe. It reduces the bone mineralization and reducing the bone mineral content and thereby reducing bone density. Aim of the study: To assess the reduction in bone mineral density among children who have completed the first course of steroid therapy for nephrotic syndrome by measuring biochemical markers of bone. Materials and methods: This study was done to find out the reduction in the Bone mineral density among children who completed steroid therapy for nephrotic syndrome, by using bone biochemical markers. This study also helped to assess the side- effect of Glucocorticoids on bone density and to prevent bone demineralization and pathological fractures in children. Results: The results showed there was a reduction in the serum calcium values among children with MCNS. This implied hypocalcemia among children due to GCs and the P value is significant <0.001. This represented the corrected calcium levels among the children after drug effect. It implied the D. Sampath Kumar, S. Prasanna, P. Sakthi Seethalakshmi. To assess the reduction in bone mineral density among children who completed steroid therapy for nephrotic syndrome. IAIM, 2018; 5(2): 94-104. Page 95 overall the corrected calcium levels at low levels with MEAN=8.34 mg%. The P value was <0.024 Significant. The total proteins were normal among children after completing the glucocorticoid therapy. The P value was <0.001 and was significant. Mean = 5.68. Standard Deviation (SD) = 0.28. The serum phosphorus was almost normal among remission MCNS Children and at higher levels among defaulters, SDNS and SRNS. Conclusion: Glucocorticoids is the drug of choice and standard therapy for Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome (MCNS), but the drug-induced hypocalcemia and hypovitaminosis D are assessed by our study. Added to the above, the disease itself characterized by hypocalcemia and hypovitaminosis D. So, all children should undergo this assessment to prevent growth failure and pathological fractures. Nutritional supplements are recommended for the quality of life among children.

The Mathematical Model for Predicting the Probability of Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome Using Clinical Parameters / 대한신장학회잡지

PURPOSE: We retrospectively investigated to find out the equation of calculating the probability of minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) using clinical parameters. We prospectively investigated to determine the usefulness of the mathematical model. METHODS: We retrospectively examined 56 patients with nephrotic syndrome (NS) (30 MCNS and 26 non-MCNS) diagnosed by kidney biopsy. A mathematical model for calculating the probability of MCNS was obtained through multiple logistic analysis in SAS statistics package. In addition, we prospectively studied 28 patients with NS. Clinical MCNS and non-MCNS were classified according to the probability of 85% in the mathematical model. Kidney biopsy was performed, and serum albumin and urinalysis were measured after 2 weeks of steroid treatment. RESULTS: In the retrospective study, the mathematical model was P=ea/(1+ea), a=17.2507 - 5.5777xON - 4.2256xALB-0.000579x24PROT - 1.2569xUBL+2.1703xUAL. The mode of onset (ON), 24 hours urine protein (24PROT), serum albumin concentration (ALB), the grade of hematuria (UBL) and proteinuria (UAL) were included as clinical parameters. At the probability of 85%, the sensitivity and specificity for predicting MCNS was 73.3% and 100% respectively. In the prospective study, the result of kidney biopsy was consistent with clinical MCNS and non-MCNS according to a mathematical model. All clinical MCNS showed negative proteinuria on urinalysis and a significant increase in serum albumin after 2 weeks treatment (1.85+/-0.30 g/dL to 2.88+/-0.26 g/dL, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the mathematical model for predicting the probability of MCNS may be useful in diagnosis of the MCNS.

Increased Frequency of Apolipoprotein E4 Genotype in Childhood Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome (MCNS)

PURPOSE: We studied to find out apo-E genotype polymorphism in minimal change nephrotic syndrome(MCNS) and IgA nephropathy(IgAN) and to determine the relationship between apo-E genotype and clinical course of MCNS. MATERIALS AND METHOD: 43 MCNS patients and 15 IgAN patients were examined for apo-E polymorphism. 50 healthy blood donors were examined for apo-E genotype as control. Genomic DNA was prepared from peripheral blood leukocytes according to standard procedures. RESULTS: As compared with control group, e4 allele frequency was significantly increased in MCNS (P<0.01). However, in IgAN e2 allele frequency, however, was 2.6 times higher than normal control (P<0.01). The frequency of e4 allele of frequent relapser group was 4.6 times higher than normal control and was 2 times higher than infrequent relapser group. CONCLUSION: We think that apo-E typing might be one of the parameters, which should be considered to predict the course of MCNS in children. MCNS with risky HLA profile and E4/4 genotype could indicate the need for a longer steroid dministration. And apo-E genotype needs to be considered for the evaluation of therapeutic responses to other drugs.