Kidney is in trouble with mediators

Urotensin II system in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive and long-term condition marked by a gradual decline in kidney function. CKD is prevalent among those with conditions such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis. Affecting over 10% of the global population, CKD stands as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Despite substantial advances in understanding CKD pathophysiology and management, there is still a need to explore novel mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Urotensin II (UII), a potent vasoactive peptide, has garnered attention for its possible role in the development and progression of CKD. The UII system consists of endogenous ligands UII and UII-related peptide (URP) and their receptor, UT. URP pathophysiology is understudied, but alterations in tissue expression levels of UII and UT and blood or urinary UII concentrations have been linked to cardiovascular and kidney dysfunctions, including systemic hypertension, chronic heart failure, glomerulonephritis, and diabetes. UII gene polymorphisms are associated with increased risk of diabetes. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of UT mitigated kidney and cardiovascular disease in rodents, making the UII system a potential target for slowing CKD progression. However, a deeper understanding of the UII system's cellular mechanisms in renal and extrarenal organs is essential for comprehending its role in CKD pathophysiology. This review explores the evolving connections between the UII system and CKD, addressing potential mechanisms, therapeutic implications, controversies, and unexplored concepts.

Systemic Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Health in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Recent studies indicate that cerebrovascular diseases and processes of atherosclerosis originate in the childhood era and are largely influenced by chronic inflammation. Some features of vascular dysfunction in adulthood may even be programmed prenatally via genetic influences and an unfavorable intrauterine milieu. Oxidative stress, defined by an imbalance between the production and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues and the capability of an organism to scavenge these molecules via antioxidant mechanisms, has been linked to adverse cardiovascular health in adults, yet has not been systematically reviewed in the pediatric population. We performed a systematic search as per the PRISMA guidelines in PubMed/Medline and Cochrane Reviews and detected, in total, 1228 potentially eligible pediatric articles on systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, antioxidant use, cardiovascular disease and endothelial dysfunction. The abstracts and full-text manuscripts of these were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria, and a total of 160 articles were included. The results indicate that systemic inflammation and oxidative stress influence cardiovascular health in many chronic pediatric conditions, including hypertension, obesity, diabetes mellitus types 1 and 2, chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia and obstructive sleep apnea. Exercise and diet may diminish ROS formation and enhance the total serum antioxidant capacity. Antioxidant supplementation may, in selected conditions, contribute to the diminution of the oxidative state and improve endothelial function; yet, in many areas, studies provide unsatisfactory results.

Renal histology and immunohistochemistry after acute hemorrhage in rats under sevoflurane and ketoprofen effect

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of intravenous nonselective cyclooxygenase inhibitor, ketoprofen (keto), on kidney histological changes and kidney cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 (IL-1), levels after hemorrhage of 30% of volemia (three times 10%, intervals of 10 min) in rats. METHODS: Under sevoflurane (sevo) anesthesia, sevo and sevo+keto groups (10 rats each) were instrumented for Ringer solution (5mL/kg/h) administration and mean arterial pressure (MAP) evaluation, plus keto (1.5mg/kg) administration in sevo+keto group in the beginning of anesthesia. Rectal temperature was continuously measured. The baseline data of temperature and MAP were collected at the first hemorrhage (T1), the third hemorrhage (T2) and 30min after T2 (T3). Bilateral nephrectomy was achieved for histology and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: In both groups, temperature and MAP diminished from initial values. Hypothermia was greater in sevo group (p=0.0002). Tubular necrosis was more frequent in sevo group (p=0.02). The studied cytokines were equally present in the kidneys of both groups. CONCLUSION: Ketoprofen was more protective to the rat kidney in condition of anesthesia with sevoflurane and hypovolemia, but it seems that TNF-α and IL-1 were not involved in that protection.