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Papadopoulos KI, Sutheesophon W, Manipalviratn S, Aw TC. Age and genotype dependent erythropoietin protection in COVID-19. World J Stem Cells 2021; 13:1513-1529. [PMID: 34786155 PMCID: PMC8567454 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v13.i10.1513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) is the main mediator of erythropoiesis and an important tissue protective hormone that appears to mediate an ancestral neuroprotective innate immune response mechanism at an early age. When the young brain is threatened-prematurity, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, malaria- EPO is hyper-secreted disproportionately to any concurrent anemic stimuli. Under eons of severe malarial selection pressure, neuroprotective EPO augmenting genetic determinants such as the various hemoglobinopathies, and the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism, have been positively selected. When malarial and other cerebral threats abate and the young child survives to adulthood, EPO subsides. Sustained high ACE and angiotensin II (Ang II) levels through the ACE D allele in adulthood may then become detrimental as witnessed by epidemiological studies. The ubiquitous renin angiotensin system (RAS) influences the α-klotho/fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) circuitry, and both are interconnected with EPO. Here we propose that at a young age, EPO augmenting genetic determinants through ACE D allele elevated Ang II levels in some or HbE/beta thalassemia in others would increase EPO levels and shield against coronavirus disease 2019, akin to protection from malaria and dengue fever. Human evolution may use ACE2 as a “bait” for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to gain cellular entry in order to trigger an ACE/ACE2 imbalance and stimulate EPO hypersecretion using tissue RAS, uncoupled from hemoglobin levels. In subjects without EPO augmenting genetic determinants at any age, ACE2 binding and internalization upon SARS-CoV-2 entry would trigger an ACE/ACE2 imbalance, and Ang II oversecretion leading to protective EPO stimulation. In children, low nasal ACE2 Levels would beneficially augment this imbalance, especially for those without protective genetic determinants. On the other hand, in predisposed adults with the ACE D allele, ACE/ACE2 imbalance, may lead to uncontrolled RAS overactivity and an Ang II induced proinflammatory state and immune dysregulation, with interleukin 6 (IL-6), plasminogen activator inhibitor, and FGF23 elevations. IL-6 induced EPO suppression, aggravated through co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and RAS pharmacological interventions may potentially lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, cytokine storm and/or autoimmunity. HbE/beta thalassemia carriers would enjoy protection at any age as their EPO stimulation is uncoupled from the RAS system. The timely use of rhEPO, EPO analogs, acetylsalicylic acid, bioactive lipids, or FGF23 antagonists in genetically predisposed individuals may counteract those detrimental effects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Somjate Manipalviratn
- Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Jetanin Institute for Assisted Reproduction, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Tar-Choon Aw
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changi General Hospital, Singapore 529889, Singapore
- Department of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore
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Nuñez-Gonzalez L, Carrera N, Garcia-Gonzalez MA. Molecular Basis, Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Approaches of Bartter and Gitelman Syndromes: A Primer for Clinicians. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11414. [PMID: 34768847 PMCID: PMC8584233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gitelman and Bartter syndromes are rare inherited diseases that belong to the category of renal tubulopathies. The genes associated with these pathologies encode electrolyte transport proteins located in the nephron, particularly in the Distal Convoluted Tubule and Ascending Loop of Henle. Therefore, both syndromes are characterized by alterations in the secretion and reabsorption processes that occur in these regions. Patients suffer from deficiencies in the concentration of electrolytes in the blood and urine, which leads to different systemic consequences related to these salt-wasting processes. The main clinical features of both syndromes are hypokalemia, hypochloremia, metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism. Despite having a different molecular etiology, Gitelman and Bartter syndromes share a relevant number of clinical symptoms, and they have similar therapeutic approaches. The main basis of their treatment consists of electrolytes supplements accompanied by dietary changes. Specifically for Bartter syndrome, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is also strongly supported. This review aims to address the latest diagnostic challenges and therapeutic approaches, as well as relevant recent research on the biology of the proteins involved in disease. Finally, we highlight several objectives to continue advancing in the characterization of both etiologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Nuñez-Gonzalez
- Grupo de Xenetica e Bioloxia do Desenvolvemento das Enfermidades Renais, Laboratorio de Nefroloxia (No. 11), Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Grupo de Medicina Xenomica, Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Noa Carrera
- Grupo de Xenetica e Bioloxia do Desenvolvemento das Enfermidades Renais, Laboratorio de Nefroloxia (No. 11), Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Grupo de Medicina Xenomica, Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- RedInRen (Red en Investigación Renal) RETIC (Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud), ISCIII (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel A. Garcia-Gonzalez
- Grupo de Xenetica e Bioloxia do Desenvolvemento das Enfermidades Renais, Laboratorio de Nefroloxia (No. 11), Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
- Grupo de Medicina Xenomica, Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compostela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- RedInRen (Red en Investigación Renal) RETIC (Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud), ISCIII (Instituto de Salud Carlos III), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Fundación Pública Galega de Medicina Xenomica—SERGAS, Complexo Hospitalario de Santiago de Compotela (CHUS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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Feng B, Zhu Y, Wu J, Huang X, Song R, Huang L, Feng X, Zeng W. Monitoring intracellular pH fluctuation with an excited-state intramolecular proton transfer-based ratiometric fluorescent sensor. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.03.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Bakir M, Ibrahim HAG. A Challenging Case of Persisting Hypokalemia Secondary to Gitelman Syndrome. Cureus 2021; 13:e18636. [PMID: 34765380 PMCID: PMC8576546 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.18636] [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] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
There are several causes of hypokalemia, including transcellular shift, renal loss, gastrointestinal loss, and decreased oral intake. Sometimes it is challenging to know the source of the problem; however, with detailed history, physical examination, and appropriate laboratory investigations, the physician should be able to narrow down the differentials diagnosis to reach the right one. One of the rare causes of hypokalemia is Gitelman syndrome, which is a salt-losing tubulopathy that manifests as renal potassium wasting, metabolic alkalosis, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria, and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism. This disorder is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern with an incidence of 25 instances per million population. We report a challenging case of persistent hypokalemia in a 30-year-old woman who presented with a history of palpitation, bilateral upper and lower limbs numbness, nausea, diarrhea, and generalized fatigue for three days. After history and physical examination, the patient was diagnosed with an episode of enteritis, and laboratory workups revealed low potassium and magnesium levels, and it was thought that these electrolyte abnormalities were secondary to gastrointestinal loss. Therefore, the patient was mainly treated supportively along with potassium and magnesium replacement. However, after one week of replacement, the patient still had low potassium and magnesium levels in spite of being diarrhea-free, so renal loss was suspected. Urine electrolytes revealed high renal potassium loss with low-normal blood pressure, arterial blood gases revealed metabolic alkalosis with a pH of 7.49 and bicarbonate level of 29 mEq/L. Repeated urine chemistry was done to check for chloride level and turned out to be high, and 24-hour urinary excretion of calcium was very low. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with Gitelman syndrome and was managed with potassium and magnesium replacements intravenously, and was encouraged to consume a diet rich in these electrolytes. After complete resolutions of the symptoms and correction of potassium and magnesium levels, the patient was discharged home in stable condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Bakir
- Medicine and Surgery, College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, SAU
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Calò LA, Rigato M, Sgarabotto L, Gianesello L, Bertoldi G, Ravarotto V, Davis PA. ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 Infection Risk: Insights From Patients With Two Rare Genetic Tubulopathies, Gitelman's and Bartter's Syndromes. Front Med (Lausanne) 2021; 8:647319. [PMID: 34017843 PMCID: PMC8129173 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2021.647319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 is spreading globally with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-2 serving as the entry point of SARS-CoV-2 virus. This raised concerns how ACE2 and the Renin-Angiotensin (Ang)-System (RAS) are to be dealt with given their roles in hypertension and their involvement in COVID-19's morbidity and mortality. Specifically, increased ACE2 expression in response to treatment with ACE inhibitors (ACEi) and Ang II receptor blockers (ARBs) might theoretically increase COVID-19 risk by increasing SARS-CoV-2 binding sites. However, ACE2 is part of the protective counter-regulatory ACE2-Ang1-7-MasR axis, which opposes the classical ACE-AngII-AT1R regulatory axis. We used Gitelman's and Bartter's syndromes (GS/BS) patients, rare genetic tubulopathies that have endogenously increased levels of ACE2, to explore these issues. Specifically, 128 genetically confirmed GS/BS patients, living in Lombardia, Emilia Romagna and Veneto, the Northern Italy hot spots for COVID-19, were surveyed via telephone survey regarding COVID-19. The survey found no COVID-19 infection and absence of COVID-19 symptoms in any patient. Comparison analysis with the prevalence of COVID-19 in those regions showed statistical significance (p < 0.01). The results of the study strongly suggest that increased ACE2 does not increase risk of COVID-19 and that ACEi and ARBs by blocking excessive AT1R-mediated Ang II activation might favor the increase of ACE2-derived Ang 1-7. GS/BS patients' increased ACE2 and Ang 1-7 levels and their characteristic chronic metabolic alkalosis suggest a mechanism similar to that of chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine effect on ACE2 glycosylation alteration with resulting SARS-COV-2 binding inhibition and blockage/inhibition of viral entry. Studies from our laboratory are ongoing to explore GS/BS ACE2 glycosylation and other potential beneficial effects of BS/GS. Importantly, the absence of frank COVID-19 or of COVID-19 symptoms in the BS/GS patients cohort, given no direct ascertainment of COVID-19 status, suggest that elevated ACE2 levels as found in GS/BS patients at a minimum render COVID-19 infection asymptomatic and thus that COVID-19 symptoms are driven by ACE2 levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo A Calò
- Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, Nephrology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Rigato
- Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, Nephrology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Sgarabotto
- Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, Nephrology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Lisa Gianesello
- Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, Nephrology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bertoldi
- Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, Nephrology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Verdiana Ravarotto
- Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Department of Medicine, Nephrology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Paul A Davis
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
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Davis PA, Bertoldi G, Calò LA. On the imbalanced protective arm of RAS in COVID-19: Lesson from rare genetic tubulopathies. Int J Clin Pract 2021; 75:e14075. [PMID: 33887873 PMCID: PMC8250254 DOI: 10.1111/ijcp.14075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Davis
- Department of NutritionUniversity of CaliforniaDavisCAUSA
| | - Giovanni Bertoldi
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation UnitDepartment of MedicineUniversity of PadovaItaly
| | - Lorenzo A. Calò
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation UnitDepartment of MedicineUniversity of PadovaItaly
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