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Jin J, Yang X, Gong H, Li X. Time- and Gender-Dependent Alterations in Mice during the Aging Process. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12790. [PMID: 37628974 PMCID: PMC10454612 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241612790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Compared to young people and adults, there are differences in the ability of elderly people to resist diseases or injuries, with some noticeable features being gender-dependent. However, gender differences in age-related viscera alterations are not clear. To evaluate a potential possibility of gender differences during the natural aging process, we used three age groups to investigate the impact on spleens, kidneys, and adrenal glands. The immunofluorescence results showed that male-specific p21 proteins were concentrated in the renal tubule epithelial cells of the kidney. Histological staining revealed an increase in the frequencies of fat vacuoles located in the renal tubule epithelial cells of the cortex, under the renal capsule in the kidneys of male mice with age. In female mice, we found that the width of the globular zone in the adrenal gland cortex was unchanged with age. On the contrary, the male displayed a reduction in width. Compared to females, the content of epinephrine in adrenal gland tissue according to ELISA analysis was higher in adults, and a greater decline was observed in aged males particularly. These data confirmed the age-dependent differences between female and male mice; therefore, gender should be considered one of the major factors for personalized treatment in clinical diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jin
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China (H.G.)
| | - Xiaoquan Yang
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China (H.G.)
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Hui Gong
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China (H.G.)
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Suzhou 215004, China
| | - Xiangning Li
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China (H.G.)
- Research Unit of Multimodal Cross Scale Neural Signal Detection and Imaging, HUST-Suzhou Institute for Brainsmatics, JITRI, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Suzhou 215004, China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Hainan Province, School of Biomedical Engineering, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, China
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2
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Zhang Y, Wu Y, Wang W, Liu F, Zhang Y, Yang C, Liu A, Wu J, Zhu T, Nicholson ML, Fan Y, Yang B. Long-Term Protection of CHBP Against Combinational Renal Injury Induced by Both Ischemia-Reperfusion and Cyclosporine A in Mice. Front Immunol 2021; 12:697751. [PMID: 34381450 PMCID: PMC8350137 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.697751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury and cyclosporine A (CsA) nephrotoxicity affect allograft function and survival. The prolonged effects and underlying mechanisms of erythropoietin derived cyclic helix B peptide (CHBP) and/or caspase-3 small interfering RNA (CASP-3siRNA) were investigated in mouse kidneys, as well as kidney epithelial cells (TCMK-1), subjected to transplant-related injuries. Bilateral renal pedicles were clamped for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 2 and 8 weeks, with/without 35 mg/kg CsA gavage daily and/or 24 nmol/kg CHBP intraperitoneal injection every 3 days. The ratio of urinary albumin to creatinine was raised by IR injury, further increased by CsA and lowered by CHBP at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, whereas the level of SCr was not significantly affected. Similar change trends were revealed in tubulointerstitial damage and fibrosis, HMGB1 and active CASP-3 protein. Increased apoptotic cells in IR kidneys were decreased by CsA and CHBP at 2 and/or 8 weeks. p70 S6 kinase and mTOR were reduced by CsA with/without CHBP at 2 weeks, so were S6 ribosomal protein and GSK-3β at 8 weeks, with reduced CASP-3 at both time points. CASP-3 was further decreased by CHBP in IR or IR + CsA kidneys at 2 or 8 weeks. Furthermore, in TCMK-1 cells CsA induced apoptosis was decreased by CHBP and/or CASP-3siRNA treatment. Taken together, CHBP predominantly protects kidneys against IR injury at 2 weeks and/or CsA nephrotoxicity at 8 weeks, with different underlying mechanisms. Urinary albumin/creatinine is a good biomarker in monitoring the progression of transplant-related injuries. CsA divergently affects apoptosis in kidneys and cultured kidney epithelial cells, in which CHBP and/or CASP-3siRNA reduces inflammation and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufang Zhang
- Renal Group, Basic Medical Research Centre, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Renal Group, Basic Medical Research Centre, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yiwen Zhang
- Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Cheng Yang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Aifen Liu
- Renal Group, Basic Medical Research Centre, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Tongyu Zhu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Michael L Nicholson
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.,Department of Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Yaping Fan
- Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Renal Group, Basic Medical Research Centre, Medical College of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Nantong-Leicester Joint Institute of Kidney Science, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leicester, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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3
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Nguyen ITN, Wiggenhauser LM, Bulthuis M, Hillebrands JL, Feelisch M, Verhaar MC, van Goor H, Joles JA. Cardiac Protection by Oral Sodium Thiosulfate in a Rat Model of L-NNA-Induced Heart Disease. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:650968. [PMID: 33935760 PMCID: PMC8082682 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.650968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertension contributes to cardiac damage and remodeling. Despite the availability of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and other antihypertensive therapies, some patients still develop heart failure. Novel therapeutic approaches are required that are effective and without major adverse effects. Sodium Thiosulfate (STS), a reversible oxidation product of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), is a promising pharmacological entity with vasodilator and anti-oxidant potential that is clinically approved for the treatment of calciphylaxis and cyanide poisoning. We hypothesized that Sodium Thiosulfate improves cardiac disease in an experimental hypertension model and sought to investigate its cardioprotective effects by direct comparison to the ACE-inhibitor lisinopril, alone and in combination, using a rat model of chronic nitric oxide (NO) deficiency. Systemic nitric oxide production was inhibited in Sprague Dawley rats by administering N-ω-nitro-l-arginine (L-NNA) with the food for three weeks, leading to progressive hypertension, cardiac dysfunction and remodeling. We observed that STS, orally administered via the drinking water, ameliorated L-NNA-induced heart disease. Treatment with STS for two weeks ameliorated hypertension and improved systolic function, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis and oxidative stress, without causing metabolic acidosis as is sometimes observed following parenteral administration of this drug. STS and lisinopril had similar protective effects that were not additive when combined. Our findings indicate that oral intervention with a H2S donor such as STS has cardioprotective properties without noticeable side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel T N Nguyen
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Lucas M Wiggenhauser
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Marian Bulthuis
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jan-Luuk Hillebrands
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Martin Feelisch
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Southampton General Hospital and Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Marianne C Verhaar
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen and University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Jaap A Joles
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Besseling PJ, Pieters TT, Nguyen ITN, de Bree PM, Willekes N, Dijk AH, Bovée DM, Hoorn EJ, Rookmaaker MB, Gerritsen KG, Verhaar MC, Gremmels H, Joles JA. A plasma creatinine- and urea-based equation to estimate glomerular filtration rate in rats. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2021; 320:F518-F524. [PMID: 33522412 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00656.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Monitoring renal function is a vital part of kidney research involving rats. The laborious measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with administration of exogenous filtration markers does not easily allow serial measurements. Using an in-house database of inulin clearances, we developed and validated a plasma creatinine- and plasma urea-based equation to estimate GFR in a large cohort of male rats [development cohort n = 325, R2 = 0.816, percentage of predictions that fell within 30% of the true value (P30) = 76%] that had high accuracy in the validation cohort (n = 116 rats, R2 = 0.935, P30 = 79%). The equation was less accurate in rats with nonsteady-state creatinine, in which the equation should therefore not be used. In conclusion, applying this equation facilitates easy and repeatable estimates of GFR in rats.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first equation, that we know of, which estimates glomerular filtration rate in rats based on a single measurement of body weight, plasma creatinine, and plasma urea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J Besseling
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tobias T Pieters
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Isabel T N Nguyen
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Petra M de Bree
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nel Willekes
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Adele H Dijk
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dominique M Bovée
- Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ewout J Hoorn
- Division of Nephrology and Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten B Rookmaaker
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karin G Gerritsen
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marianne C Verhaar
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik Gremmels
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Diakonessenhuis, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap A Joles
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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5
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Wu X, Lin L, Cui J, Chen Y, Yang L, Wan J. Complement C3 deficiency ameliorates aging related changes in the kidney. Life Sci 2020; 260:118370. [PMID: 32882264 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Complement C3 (C3) has been shown to be involved in the aging process. However, the role of C3 in kidney aging has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effect of C3 on senescence related kidney disorders in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two-, 8-, and 16-month-old C3-deficient male mice (KO) (n = 6) and age-, gender-, and strain- matched wild type (WT) C57BL/6 mice (n = 6) were selected to represent young, middle-aged and aging mice. Renal, blood and urine samples were collected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Masson, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining as well as ELISA and Western blotting were used to explore the mechanisms involved in renal aging. KEY FINDINGS The level of C3 was upregulated during aging in WT mice. The glomerular sclerosis index and tubulointerstitial fibrosis index were increased significantly in WT mice during aging. Renal function was not significantly different between the young and aged groups. Compared with those in WT mice, the levels of inflammation and fibrosis were decreased, while the expression of CD31 was significantly increased in the KO group. SIGNIFICANCE Our data demonstrated that age-related changes in renal structure occur earlier than functional changes and that complement C3 is involved in aging-related kidney disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Wu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liyu Lin
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiong Cui
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liyan Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianxin Wan
- Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
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6
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Zhang G, Iwase H, Wang L, Yamamoto T, Jagdale A, Ayares D, Li Y, Cooper DKC, Hara H. Is interleukin-6 receptor blockade (tocilizumab) beneficial or detrimental to pig-to-baboon organ xenotransplantation? Am J Transplant 2020; 20:999-1013. [PMID: 31733178 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.15712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The interleukin (IL)-6/IL-6 receptor-α (IL-6Rα)/signal transduction and activation of the transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway plays an important role in inflammation. Anti-human IL-6Rα blockade by tocilizumab (TCZ) has been used in pig-to-baboon organ xenotransplant models, but whether it is beneficial remains uncertain. After xenotransplant, there were significant increases in both baboon and pig IL-6 in the baboon serum, especially in baboons that received TCZ before xenotransplant. In vitro observations demonstrated that human, baboon, and pig IL-6 can activate the IL-6/IL-6Rα/STAT3 pathway in human, baboon, and pig cells, respectively. Activation of the IL-6/IL-6Rα/STAT3 pathway was blocked by TCZ in human and baboon cells but not in pig cells (ie, pig IL-6R). Siltuximab (human IL-6 inhibitor) bound to both human and baboon, but not pig, IL-6 and suppressed activation of the IL-6/IL-6Rα/STAT3 pathway. These results indicate that TCZ and siltuximab do not cross-react with pig IL-6R and pig IL-6, respectively. Rapamycin partially inhibited human, baboon, and pig IL-6/IL-6Rα/STAT3 pathways and suppressed inflammatory gene expression. TCZ treatment increased serum IL-6 because it could no longer bind to baboon IL-6Rα. We suggest that increased serum IL-6 may be detrimental to the pig xenograft because it is likely to bind to pig IL-6R, resulting in activation of pig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqiang Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.,Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.,Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Hayato Iwase
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Liaoran Wang
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Takayuki Yamamoto
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Abhijit Jagdale
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | - Yong Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - David K C Cooper
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Hidetaka Hara
- Xenotransplantation Program, Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Bao C, Yang Z, Li Q, Cai Q, Li H, Shu B. Aerobic Endurance Exercise Ameliorates Renal Vascular Sclerosis in Aged Mice by Regulating PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway. DNA Cell Biol 2020; 39:310-320. [PMID: 31971826 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2019.4966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal vascular sclerosis caused by aging plays an important role in the occurrence and development of chronic kidney disease. Clinical studies have confirmed that endurance exercise is able to delay the aging of skeletal muscle and brain tissue. However, to date, few studies have assessed whether endurance exercise is able to improve the occurrence of renal vascular sclerosis caused by natural aging and its related mechanisms. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of aerobic endurance exercise on renal vascular sclerosis in aged mice and its effect on the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathway. The results suggested that aerobic endurance exercise preserved kidney morphology and renal function. Glomerular basement membrane thickness was evidently increased, podocyte foot processes were effaced in aged mice, and aerobic endurance exercise significantly ameliorated the overall lesion range. The protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and JG12 was lower in the senile control group (OC group). The protein expression of VEGF and JG12 was significantly increased after aerobic endurance exercise. Furthermore, aerobic endurance exercise resulted in downregulation of Bax, Caspase 3, IL-6, and senescent cells and upregulation of Bcl-2. The upregulation of PI3K and its downstream signal molecules AKT and mTOR after aerobic endurance exercise was further observed. Our observations indicated that aerobic endurance exercise may inhibit renal vascular sclerosis in aged mice by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuncha Bao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University-Town Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhong Yang
- Department of Clinical Blood Teaching and Research, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University-Town Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qiyan Cai
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongli Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Shu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University-Town Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Dissociation between hypertrophy and fibrosis in the left ventricle early after experimental kidney transplantation. J Hypertens 2019; 38:489-503. [PMID: 31652182 DOI: 10.1097/hjh.0000000000002285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy is the most common cardiac alteration in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Normalization of hypertension in CKD patients receiving a healthy kidney allograft often reverses LV hypertrophy, but effects on LV fibrosis remain unclear. To study causal interactions between graft and environment on LV hypertrophy, fibrosis and inflammation, we applied cross-kidney transplantation METHODS:: Orthotopic transplantation was performed after inducing CKD in rats by two-third bilateral ablation of kidney mass: Healthy kidney (K) donor to healthy heart (H) recipient (healthy-K→healthy-H); CKD-K→healthy-H; healthy-K→CKD-H; CKD-K→CKD-H; N= 6 per group. RESULTS At week 6 after transplantation, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and LV mass index (LVMI) increased in CKD-K versus healthy-K irrespective of recipient. Contrarily, LV fibrosis was more severe in CKD-H versus healthy-H recipients irrespective of graft. Indeed, MAP and plasma creatinine correlated with LVMI but not with LV fibrosis. Increased LVMI in CKD-K→CKD-H not accompanied by cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area gain is consistent with eccentric remodelling. Cardiac RNA sequencing found a strong transcriptional response associated with LV fibrosis but only sparse changes associated with LV hypertrophy. This response was, among others, characterized by changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) and inflammatory gene expression. CONCLUSION LVMI reversed and MAP and renal function were normalized early after transplantation of a healthy kidney. However, LV fibrosis persisted, dissociating LV hypertrophy from LV fibrosis within 6 weeks. Elucidating cardiac ECM dynamics in CKD patients, although challenging, appears promising.
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