Erratum: Protective effect of astragalosides from Radix Astragali on adriamycin-induced podocyte injury.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.5933.].

Protective effect of astragalosides from Radix Astragali on adriamycin-induced podocyte injury.

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is the most common kidney disease in clinical practice and may lead to end-stage renal failure. Astragalosides (AST) have been clinically tested for the treatment of NS, but their mechanism of action has remained to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of AST on the structure and function of podocytes with adriamycin (ADR)-induced damage and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The mouse podocyte clone 5 (MPC5) immortalized mouse podocyte cell line was treated with 0.5 µmol/l ADR to establish a podocyte injury model. The MPC5 podocytes were divided into a control group, a podocyte injury group and a low-, medium- and high-concentration AST treatment group. The results indicated that the survival rate of the podocyte injury group was significantly decreased compared with that in the control group and each AST-treated group had an increased survival rate compared with that in the podocyte injury group. Furthermore, each dose of AST significantly inhibited the ADR-associated increases the levels of lactate dehydrogenase and malondialdehyde and the decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase in MPC5 podocytes. In addition, AST improved the migration ability of MPC5 podocytes and suppressed the cytoskeletal rearrangement associated with ADR-induced damage. Furthermore, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and -9 were decreased in the podocyte injury group, which was inhibited by different concentrations of AST. Thus, AST was able to maintain the balance of oxidative stress in podocytes cultured with ADR and protect them from ADR-induced injury. The mechanism may be associated with the upregulation of MMPs.

Relationship between genotypes and clinical manifestation, pathology, and cccDNA in Chinese children with hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B virus-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN) is one of the extrahepatic manifestations after HBV infection, which would cause great clinical harm to people. The present study was undertaken to investigate the HBV-GN genotypes and its clinical relevance in Chinese children. METHODS: A total of 41 HBV-infected children diagnosed with HBV-GN were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent liver and kidney biopsy. The genotypes and cccDNA were detected in their serum samples to analyze the relationship between HBV genotypes and clinical characteristics, cccDNA, and pathology. RESULTS: Among the 41 children with HBV-GN, 29 (70.7%) had genotype C, 10 (24.4%) had genotype B, 2 (4.9%) had genotype B/C, and none of them had genotype non-B/C. Most children had genotypes B or C; moreover, the genotype C was the most frequent one. The incidence of hematuria and albuminuria, reduction in complement C3, increase in serum alanine aminotransferase levels and renal insufficiency in the children with genotype C were significantly higher than those in the children with genotype B (P<0.05); however, there was no statistically significant difference in hypertension and hepatomegaly (P>0.05). The frequency of HBV cccDNA positive in the genotype C group was significantly higher than that in the genotype B group (72.4% vs. 30.0%, P<0.05). No difference was observed in hepatic inflammation grades and stages of fibrosis between the two groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Genotype C was the most frequent genotype in the described group of patients with HBV-GN, and the liver and kidney damage indicators were more likely to occur in patients with genotype C.

[Relationship between B/C genotype of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis B virus related-nephritis in children].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between genotype of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis B virus related-glomerular nephritis in (HBV-GN) children. METHOD: Totally 176 HBV-DNA positive children with chronic hepatitis B were randomly collected. Among the 176 patients, 92 were HBV carriers, 84 were cases with chronic hepatitis. The genotypes of their serum HBV, liver function, and HBV-DNA load were detected. When children showed nephrotic syndrome, renal biopsy was performed. RESULT: Of the serum samples of 176 cases, 85 (48.3%) were genotype C, 72 (40.9%) were genotype B, 13 (7.4%) were genotype B/C, and 6 (3.4%) were non-B/C genotype which were excluded. Among the analyzed 157 cases, the ratio of HBV-GN in the HBeAg positive group (78.3%) was significantly higher than that in the negative group (21.7%) (χ(2) = 18.301, P < 0.001). And, the ratio of HBV-GN in the genotype C group (73.9%) was significantly higher than that in the genotype B group (26.1%) (P < 0.039). The ratio of hematuria or proteinuria in the genotype C group (20%, 18.8%) was significantly higher than that in the genotype B group (8.3%, 5.6%) (P < 0.039; P value = 0.013); and the alteration of ALT or C3 in the genotype C group (10.2%, 15.3%) was more frequent than those in the genotype B group (2.8%, 2.8%) (P = 0.005; P = 0.008). There were no significant differences in kidney dysfunction or hepatomegaly. Further, the ratio of HBV-GN was more significantly frequent in HBV-DNA highly loading group (79.2%) than which in HBV-DNA lowly loading group (20.8%) (P = 0.000). Finally, in HBV-GN group, genotype C cases (88.2%) more frequently had high HBV-DNA load condition than genotype B cases (11.8%) (P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Children with HBV infection in Gansu province showed mainly genotypes C or B, while genotype C seemingly predominant. Patients with genotype C more frequently showed proteinuria or hematuria. The high HBV-DNA load may be related with HBV-GN. It is a potential reason in the mechanism of HBV-GN that patients with genotype C had more possibility to have HBV-DNA high load. Analysis of HBV genotype for HBV patients maybe helpful in diagnosis and treatment.

[Evaluation of the applicability of three prediction equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate in children with chronic kidney disease].

OBJECTIVE: Accurate and reliable assessment of renal function is important in the management of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the best index of assessing kidney function. For assessment of GFR, both gold standard tests and prediction equations have been used. The well-known 24-hour endogenous creatinine clearance (Ccr), the Schwartz formula and the Filler formula are increasingly used in daily clinical practice. However, there are few studies on the applicability of these prediction equations for estimating GFR in Chinese children with CKD. The aim of this study was to compare these prediction equations estimating GFR with an isotope clearance method [isotope glomerular filtration rate (rGFR)] in such patients. METHOD: Children aged 1-16 years who underwent isotope (99m)Tc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ((99m)Tc-DTPA) GFR testing (Gates' method) between the year of 2002 and 2005 were studied retrospectively. GFR was estimated using: (1) 24-hour Ccr, which was calculated using the standard formula: [urine creatinine (milligrammes per millilitre) × 24-hour urine volume/serum creatinine (milligrammes per millilitre) × 1440] × [1.73 (m(2))/body surface area (m(2))]; (2) the Schwartz formula, which is: eGFR (ml/min per 1.73 m(2)) = k × height (centimetres)/serum creatinine (micromoles per litre), where k is 62 in males at 13 years of age and older, 40 in infants, and 49 in all other children; and (3) the Filler formula, which is: logGFR = 1.962 + [1.123 × log(1/Cys C)], where cystatin C is measured in milligrammes per litre. Serum and urinary creatinine levels were detected by alkaline kinetic method. Serum cystatin C was analysed by particle-enhanced immunoturbidimetric assay. Bias and precision were evaluated. RESULT: Thirty subjects (18 males and 12 females; mean age 9.4 years) fulfilling both inclusion criteria and exclusion criteria were included in this study. The mean (SD) rGFR was 81.57 (36.92) ml/min per 1.73 m(2); 18 subjects were in CKD stage I, 8 in CKD stage II, 8 in CKD stage III, and 1 in CKD stage IV. Only the mean 24 h Ccr-eGFR was slightly higher than rGFR (0.4 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) higher). Within 95% limits of agreement, the maximum absolute value of bias was about 50 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). Accuracy (estimated GFR values within ± 30% of rGFR) for all formulae was poor, ranging from 23.3% to 43.3%. All formulae overestimate or underestimate rGFR in different CKD stages. CONCLUSION: In Chinese children with CKD, there was a significant difference between measured GFR and estimated GFR using 24h Ccr, Schwartz formula and Filler formula. More suitable GFR predictive equations to assess glomerular function of such patients should be developed.