Ouabain protects against adverse developmental programming of the kidney

The kidney is extraordinarily sensitive to adverse fetal programming. Malnutrition, the most common form of developmental challenge, retards the formation of functional units, the nephrons. The resulting low nephron endowment increases susceptibility to renal injury and disease. Using explanted rat embryonic kidneys, we found that ouabain, the Na,K-ATPase ligand, triggers a calcium–nuclear factor-κB signal, which protects kidney development from adverse effects of malnutrition. To mimic malnutrition, kidneys were serum deprived for 24 h. This resulted in severe retardation of nephron formation and a robust increase in apoptosis. In ouabain-exposed kidneys, no adverse effects of serum deprivation were observed. Proof of principle that ouabain rescues development of embryonic kidneys exposed to malnutrition was obtained from studies on pregnant rats given a low-protein diet and treated with ouabain or vehicle throughout pregnancy. Thus, we have identified a survival signal and a feasible therapeutic tool to prevent adverse programming of kidney development

Short-term effect of aldosterone on vasopressin-sensitive adenylate cyclase in rat collecting tubule

International audienceBecause previous studies indicated that, in the rat collecting tubule, vasopressin (AVP)-sensitive adenylate cyclase (AC) is controlled by mineralocorticoids in the long term, the present study was designed to investigate whether such a control also exists in the short term. Therefore, we investigated the in vivo and in vitro effects of aldosterone on AC activity in cortical and outer medullary collecting tubules (CCD and OMCD, respectively) from adrenalectomized rats. Injection of aldosterone (10 micrograms/kg body wt) to adrenalectomized rats restored within 3 h AVP-sensitive AC activity in the CCD and OMCD up to the levels observed in the corresponding segments of adrenal intact rats. Similarly, incubating CCD or OMCD from adrenalectomized rats for 2.5 h in the presence of 10(-8) M aldosterone enhanced AVP-sensitive AC activity up to values similar to those found in normal rats. In vitro stimulation of AVP-sensitive AC activity was dose dependent with regard to aldosterone [apparent affinity constant (K0.5) approximately 10(-9) M], appeared after a 30-min lag period, and reached its maximum after 2-2.5 h. In addition, it was totally abolished by the antimineralocorticoid spironolactone, whereas the specific glucocorticoid antagonist RU 38486 had no effect. Finally, actinomycin D and cycloheximide totally abolished the in vitro action of aldosterone, demonstrating the involvement of protein synthesis in that process

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis in a child successfully responding to oral antibiotics

Linear IgA bullous dermatosis (LABD) is a rare, chronic, autoimmune bullous dermatosis affecting young children and adults. The exact pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, although both humoral and cellular immune response are involved. Clinically, it may show heterogeneous skin manifestations. However, it is characterized histologically by linear immunoglobulin A (IgA) deposits over the basal membrane, causing subepidermal blisters. Studies on LABD are relatively sparse and most of the publications are small series or single case reports. Several treatments are reported in literature, however, they should be used with care due to the risk of side effects. We report a case of linear IgA dermatosis with generalized lesions in a 7 year old child, with good outcome under dermocorticoids and antibiotics