Effects of hypercholesterolemia on initial and chronic phases of rat nephrotoxic serum nephritis: development of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, analogous to atherosclerosis

A Deep Insight Into Regulatory T Cell Metabolism in Renal Disease: Facts and Perspectives

Kidney disease encompasses a complex set of diseases that can aggravate or start systemic pathophysiological processes through their complex metabolic mechanisms and effects on body homoeostasis. The prevalence of kidney disease has increased dramatically over the last two decades. CD4⁺CD25⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells that express the transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (Foxp3) are critical for maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing autoimmune disease and tissue damage caused by excessive or unnecessary immune activation, including autoimmune kidney diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the critical role of metabolic reprogramming in controlling the plasticity, stability, and function of Treg cells. They are also likely to play a vital role in limiting kidney transplant rejection and potentially promoting transplant tolerance. Metabolic pathways, such as mitochondrial function, glycolysis, lipid synthesis, glutaminolysis, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation, are involved in the development of renal diseases by modulating the function and proliferation of Treg cells. Targeting metabolic pathways to alter Treg cells can offer a promising method for renal disease therapy. In this review, we provide a new perspective on the role of Treg cell metabolism in renal diseases by presenting the renal microenvironment、relevant metabolites of Treg cell metabolism, and the role of Treg cell metabolism in various kidney diseases.

Effects of cholesterol and nuclear hormone receptor agonists on the production of transforming growth factor-beta in macrophages

We studied the effects of cholesterol, its oxidized derivatives mevalonate, and nuclear receptor agonists LXR, RXR, and FXR on the production of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF- beta1) by macrophages. After recruiting of macrophage monocytes into the focus of inflammation, the production of TGF-beta1 increased by 3.5 times in comparison with control macrophages. Cholesterol diet stimulated the production of TGF-beta1 by 2.5 times. Cholesterol directly stimulated macrophage production of TGF-beta1 in vitro, while addition of mevalonate to the incubation medium effectively reduced this induced production. Agonists of nuclear receptor sharply reduced the production of TGF-beta1 in recruited macrophages. Under conditions of inflammation, hypercholesterolemia can be a factor of fibrogenesis due to TGF-beta1 induction in macrophages, which depends on the products of mevalonate biochemical chain.

Leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (LECAM-1) polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Glomerular infiltration with monocytes/macrophages has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the genetic polymorphism in leukocyte-endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (LECAM-1) and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

We determined the frequency of the LECAM-1 P213S genotype in 102 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy, 90 diabetic patients with no evidence of diabetic nephropathy, and 200 healthy control individuals.

RESULTS

The frequency of the LECAM-1 213PP genotype and P allele in patients with diabetic nephropathy was significantly higher than that in patients without nephropathy (genotype 68% vs. 53%, chi(2)=6.78, P=.034; allele 83% vs. 72%, chi(2)=6.26, P=.012). The LECAM-1 P213 genotype was associated with a 1.86-fold increased risk for nephropathy independently of other risk factors.

CONCLUSION

The data suggest that the LECAM-1 213PP genotype is a genetic risk factor for the development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.