Collectins in urinary tract and kidney diseases.

The innate immune system serves as the frontline defense against invading pathogens and initiates an inflammatory response to microorganisms. Collectins are C-type lectins that are structurally characterized by a collagen-like sequence and a carbohydrate recognition domain. Moreover, they are widely expressed throughout the body and are involved in the innate immunity against a variety of pathogens, regulating inflammation, and protecting the lungs from pathogens. Recently, two classical collectins, surfactant protein A (SP-A) and surfactant protein D (SP-D), as well as novel collectin 11, were found present in urinary tract tissues. They are increasingly recognized as key players in activating the humoral arm of innate immunity and host defense in urinary tract and kidney diseases, although their biological features, functions, and mechanisms in this regard remain largely unclear. In this review, we aim to integrate results reported by ourselves and others to summarize and gain a better understanding of the functions of collectins (SP-A, SP-D, and collectin 11) in urinary tract and kidney diseases.

Serum Surfactant Protein D is Associated with Atherosclerosis of the Carotid Artery in Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Surfactant protein-D (SP-D) is an inflammatory modulator that has been associated with cardiovascular disease-related mortality, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and major adverse cardiac events in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the link between SP-D level and atherosclerosis in patients on hemodialysis. METHODS: A total of 116 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were recruited to this cross-sectional study. As a marker of atherosclerosis, the carotid artery intima-media thickness (CA-IMT) was measured by high-resolution ultrasonography, and the coronary artery calcification (CAC) score was determined by multislice computed tomography. Serum SP-D levels were measured by a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: In patients on long-term hemodialysis, the mean serum SP-D level was 192.9 +/- 89.6 pg/mL (range: 89-537 pg/mL). The serum SP-D level exhibited positive correlations with CA-IMT (r = 0.497, p < 0.0001) and severe CAC (r = 0.352, p = 0.02), which persisted after multivariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: The SP-D level showed positive correlations with carotid CA-IMT and CAC in patients on long-term hemodialysis. Therefore, SP-D may be a novel marker of atherosclerosis in patients with hemodialysis.

[Effect of Rhubarb Combined Medicinal Activated Carbon on Levels of Serum Phosphorus, Calci- um-Phosphorus Product, and Parathyroid Hormone in Hemodialysis Patients with Hyperphosphatemia].

Objective To study the effect of rhubarb combined medicinal activated carbon on levels of serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus product, as well as parathyroid hormone in hemodi- alysis patients with hyperphosphatemia. Methods Totally 126 hemodialysis patients with hyperphos- phatemia who had received treatment of calcium containing phosphorus binders were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 63 in each group. Patients in the treatment group took rhubarb (80 mg/kg, twice per day, soaked in 150 mL boiled water, taken before dinner) combined with medicinal activated carbon (1. 5 g each time, thrice per day, taken during dinner). Those in the control group took medicinal activated carbon (1. 5 g each time, thrice per day, taken during dinner). The therapeutic course for all was 8 weeks. Levels of serum calcium , phosphorus, calcium- phosphorus product and parathyroid hormone were detected in the two groups before treatment, and at week 2, 4, 6, and 8 after treatment. Adverse reactions of gastrointestinal tract were observed as well. Results Twelve patients dropped out in the treatment group and the rest 51 completed the study. Nine patients dropped out in the treatment group and the rest 54 completed the study. Compared with before treatment in the same group, levels of serum phosphorus , calcium-phosphorus product, parathyroid hor- mone began to decline from week 2 to 8 in the treatment group (P <0. 05) ; and they began to decline from week 4 to 8 in the control group (P <0. 05). Compared with the control group, levels of serum phos- phorus, calcium-phosphorus product, parathyroid hormone obviously decreased in the treatment group (P <0.05). But there was no statistical difference in serum calcium level (P >0.05) between the two groups. Main adverse reactions of gastrointestinal tract mainly included abdominal distention, diarrhea, anal pedant expansion, and constipation. Compared with the control group, the incidence of abdominal distention and constipation, as well as the total incidence of gastrointestinal reactions all decreased in the treatment group (X2 =6. 815,7. 011 ,7.077, P <0. 05). Conclusion In addition to previous phosphorus binders therapy, rhubarb combined medicinal activated carbon could effectively reduce levels of serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product, parathyroid hormone in hemodialysis patients with hyperphos- phatemia, and lessen complications of gastrointestinal tract.

Clinical characteristics of patients with malignancies combined with acute kidney injury.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of patients with malignancies combined with acute kidney injury (AKI), providing a basis for clinical AKI prevention and prognosis improvement. METHOD: Hospitalized patients in the Central Hospital of Nephrology from January 2008 to December 2013 were screened by electronic medical record system; Statistical analysis formalignant tumor patients associated with AKI was conducted. The clinical features of these patients in 6 years were analyzed and compared, and Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors of hospitalized mortality in patients with and malignant tumor and AKI. RESULTS: There were 340 cases of malignancies associated with AKI patients, accounting for 30.0% (340/1133) of AKI patients in the same period. In malignancy patients, hematological malignancies accounted for 12.9% (44/340); non-metastatic solid tumor accounted for 54.7% (186/340); metastatic solid tumor accounted for 32.4% (110/340). In factors leading to AKI, post-renal obstruction [60% (204/340)], nephrotoxic drugs or contrast agents [27.9% (95/340)] and hypovolemia [41/340 (12.1%)] were common in patients with malignant tumors. There was no significant difference in the cause of AKI between early 3 years and later 3 years (P>0.05). Hospital mortality in patients with malignancies associated with AKI was [22.9% (78/340)], with an annually declining trend. Multivariate Logistic regression showed that: multiple etiologies, multiple organ failure, metastatic solid tumor, sepsis, and continuous renal replacement therapy were independent risk factors for hospital mortality. CONCLUSION: AKI is a common complication in patients with malignant tumors, with post-renal obstruction as the most common factors. Hospital mortality in malignant tumor patients associated with AKI was higher, and the prevention of AKI is crucial in clinical.

Three cotton homeobox genes are preferentially expressed during early seedling development and in response to phytohormone signaling.

Homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-Zip) proteins are transcription factors unique to plants. In this study, three cDNAs (designated as GhHB2, GhHB3 and GhHB4) encoding HD-Zip proteins were isolated from cotton cDNA library. GhHB2 gene encodes a protein of 300 amino acids, GhHB3 gene encodes a peptide with 254 amino acids, and GhHB4 gene encodes a protein of 281 amino acids. The deduced proteins, which contain the homeodomain and leucine-rich zipper motif, share relatively high similarities with the other plant HD-Zip proteins. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis indicated that GhHB3 and GhHB4 were preferentially expressed in hypocotyls and cotyledons, whereas GhHB2 gene was predominantly expressed in young stems, at relatively high levels in hypocotyls. Expressions of all the three genes were up-regulated in roots, hypocotyls and cotyledons after GA(3) treatments. Additionally, GhHB4 expression was enhanced by 6-BA treatment. A GhHB2 promoter fragment was isolated from cotton by Genome-Walking PCR. Expression of GUS gene controlled under GhHB2 promoter was examined in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Strong GUS staining was detected in cotyledon, veins of the emerging leaves and shoot apices of 5- to 15-day-old transgenic seedlings, but GUS activity became more and more weak as the seedlings further developed. In addition, the promoter activity was induced by exogenous GA, indicating that GhHB2 promoter is very active during early seedling development, and may be GA-inducible. The results suggested that the three HB genes may function in early seedling development of cotton and in response to gibberellin signaling.

Expression and localization of GhH6L, a putative classical arabinogalactan protein in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum).

Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are a large family of highly glycosylated of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins that play important roles in plant growth, development, and signal transduction. A cDNA encoding a putative classical AGP named GhH6L was isolated from cotton fiber cDNA libraries, and the deduced protein contains 17 copies of repetitive motif of X-Y-proline-proline-proline (where X is serine or alanine and Y is threonine or serine). Northern blotting analysis and quantitative RT-PCR results showed that it was preferentially expressed in 10 days post-anthesis (dpa) fibers and was also developmentally regulated. A promoter fragment was isolated from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) by genome walking PCR. Expression of beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene under the GhH6L promoter was examined in the transgenic Arabidopsis plants; only petiole and pedicel were stained, no staining was detected in other tissues. Subcellular localization indicated that GhH6L was localized to the plasma membrane and in the cytoplasm. These data further our understanding of GhH6L as well as shed light on functional insight to GhH6L in cotton.