Pneumoperitoneum in the Presence of Acute and Chronic Kidney Injury: An Experimental Model in Rats

Identification of endogenous 1-aminopyrene as a novel mediator of progressive chronic kidney disease via aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Increasing evidence has indicated that the high risk of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients cannot be sufficiently explained by classic risk factors.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Based on the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method, we identified significantly altered renal tissue metabolites during progressive CKD in a 5/6 nephrectomized rat model and in CKD patients.

KEY RESULTS

Six aryl-containing metabolites (ACMs) were significantly increased from Week 1 to Week 20. They were associated with the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its target genes including CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP1B1, which were further validated by molecular docking. Our study further demonstrated that AhR signalling could be activated by ACM in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and IgA nephropathy. Most importantly, 1-aminopyrene (AP) showed strong positive and negative correlation with serum creatinine and creatinine clearance, respectively. AP significantly up-regulated the mRNA expressions of AhR and its three target genes in both mice and NRK-52E cells, while this effect was partially weakened in AhR small hairpin RNA-treated mice and NRK-52E cells. Furthermore, dietary flavonoid supplementation ameliorated CKD and renal fibrosis through partially inhibiting the AhR activity via lowering the ACM levels. The antagonistic effect of flavonoids on AhR was deeply influenced by the number and location of hydroxyl and glycosyl groups.

CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS

We uncovered that endogenous AP is a novel mediator of CKD progression via AhR activation; thus, AhR might serve as a promising target for CKD treatment.

Oxidative damage and mitochondrial injuries differ following pneumoperitoneum pressure in rabbit models of varying degrees of hydronephrosis

The influence of intraabdominal pressure which is necessary to maintain the operating area during the surgery cannot be ignored especially on the kidneys. Many articles have reported the effect of intraabdominal pressure on normal kidneys. However, the influence of intraabdominal pressure on hydronephrosis kidneys is rarely studied. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether intraabdominal pressure tolerance is modified in various degrees of kidney hydronephrosis by evaluating oxidative damage and mitochondrial injuries. A total of 72 rabbits were randomly divided into three groups (groups N, M and S, which represented rabbits with no, mild and severe hydronephrosis, respectively). Rabbits in groups M (n=24) and S (n=24) underwent a surgical procedure inducing mild or severe hydronephrosis, respectively. Subsequently, rabbits in all groups were allocated to 4 subgroups (N0‑N3, M0‑M3 and S0‑S3) consisting of 6 rabbits each. Groups 0 to 3 were, respectively, subjected to intraabdominal pressures of 0, 5, 10 and 15 mmHg. Oxidative damage was assessed by analyzing levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH‑Px), catalase (CAT) and lactate (LD). Mitochondrial injuries were assessed based on mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) alterations, mitochondrial structure and cytochrome c (cytc) protein expression, as measured by JC‑1 staining, electron microscopy and western blotting, respectively. Oxidative damage and mitochondrial injuries were noticeably exacerbated in group N and M with increased levels of ROS, MDA and LD, decreased levels of SOD, GSH‑Px, CAT and MMP, mitochondrial vacuolization and higher expression of cytc when the intraabdominal pressure reached 15 mmHg. In group S, these alterations occurred at pressures of 10 and 15 mmHg. Therefore, it was concluded that in rabbits exposed to pneumoperitoneal pressure, kidneys with severe hydronephrosis were more likely to suffer from oxidative damage and mitochondrial injuries compared with kidneys with mild hydronephrosis and normal kidneys.

Effects and Mechanism of Combination of Rhein and Danshensu in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a systemic role in disease treatment, targeting multiple etiological factors simultaneously. Based on clinical experience, rhubarb and Salvia miltiorrhiza are commonly prescribed together for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and have been proven to be very effective. However, the rationale of the combination remains unclear. The major active ingredients of these two herbs are rhein (RH) and danshensu (DSS), respectively. The aim of this paper is to investigate the renoprotective effects of RH and DSS in vitro and in vivo, and the underlying mechanism. A total of 5/6 nephrectomy rats and HK-2 cells were subjected to chronic renal injury. The combination of RH and DSS conferred a protective effect, as shown by a significant improvement in the renal function, blood supply, and fibrotic degree. Proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules were suppressed by RH and DSS through NK-κB signaling. The combination also inhibited apoptosis by up-regulating Bcl-2 and down-regulating Bax. Inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway was at least in part involved in the antifibrotic mechanism of the combination treatment of RH and DSS. This study demonstrates for the first time the renoprotective effect and the mechanism of RH and DSS combination on chronic renal injury. It could provide experimental evidence to support the rationality of the combinatorial use of TCM in clinical practices.