Inhibition of interleukin-6 signaling attenuates aortitis, left ventricular hypertrophy and arthritis in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist deficient mice

The aim of the present study was to examine whether inhibition of Interleukin (IL)-6 signaling by MR16-1, an IL-6 receptor antibody, attenuates aortitis, cardiac hypertrophy, and arthritis in IL-1 receptor antagonist deficient (IL-1RA KO) mice. Four weeks old mice were intraperitoneally administered with either MR16-1 or non-immune IgG at dosages that were adjusted over time for 5 weeks. These mice were stratified into four groups: MR16-1 treatment groups, KO/MR low group (first 2.0 mg, following 0.5 mg/week, n=14) and KO/MR high group (first 4.0 mg, following 2.0 mg/week, n=19) in IL-1RA KO mice, and IgG treatment groups, KO/IgG group (first 2.0 mg, following 1.0 mg/week, n=22) in IL-1RA KO mice, and wild/IgG group (first 2.0 mg, following 1.0 mg/week, n=17) in wild mice. Aortitis, cardiac hypertrophy and arthropathy were histologically analyzed. Sixty-eight percent of the KO/IgG group developed aortitis (53% developed severe aortitis). In contrast, only 21% of the KO/MR high group developed mild aortitis, without severe aortitis (P<0.01, vs KO/IgG group). Infiltration of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, T cells, and macrophages, was frequently observed around aortic sinus of the KO/IgG group. Left ventricle and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy were observed in IL-1RA KO mice. Administration of high dosage of MR16-1 significantly suppressed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. MR16-1 attenuated the incidence and severity of arthritis in IL-1RA KO mice in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, blockade of IL-6 signaling may exert a beneficial effect to attenuate severe aortitis, left ventricle hypertrophy, and arthritis

IgA Nephropathy Complicated with X-linked Thrombocytopenia

Renal involvement is occasionally observed in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT). It has been reported that galactose-deficient IgA is a closely linked to IgA nephropathy (IgAN), suggesting that patients with XLT/WAS associated with reduced galactosylation on serum IgA are susceptible to IgAN. It is necessary to pay more attention to patients with IgAN due to the potential complication with XLT/WAS. We here present a patient of XLT complicated with mild IgAN who underwent tonsillectomy combined with steroid pulse therapy to achieve complete clinical remission

Chronic Kidney Disease Is Positively and Diabetes Mellitus Is Negatively Associated with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Background and aimsChronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are considered as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of CKD and DM with the presence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).MethodsWe enrolled 261 patients with AAA (AAA+) and age-and-sex matched 261 patients without AAA (AAA-) at two hospitals between 2008 and 2014, and examined the association between the risk factors and the presence of AAA. Furthermore, in order to investigate the prevalence of AAA in each group, we enrolled 1126 patients with CKD and 400 patients with DM.ResultsThe presence of CKD in patients with AAA+ was significantly higher than that in patients with AAA- (AAA+; 65%, AAA-; 52%, P = 0.004). The presence of DM in patients with AAA+ was significantly lower than that in patients with AAA- (AAA+; 17%, AAA-; 35%, P &lt; 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that hypertension, ischemic heart disease and CKD were independent determinants, whereas, DM was a negatively independent determinant, for the presence of AAA. The prevalence of AAA in patients with CKD 65 years old and above was 5.1%, whereas, that in patients with DM 65 years old and above was only 0.6%.ConclusionCKD is a positively associated with the presence of AAA. In contrast, DM is a negatively associated with the presence of AAA in Japanese population

Chronic Kidney Disease Is Positively and Diabetes Mellitus Is Negatively Associated with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

<div><p>Background and Aims</p><p>Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are considered as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of CKD and DM with the presence of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).</p><p>Methods</p><p>We enrolled 261 patients with AAA (AAA+) and age-and-sex matched 261 patients without AAA (AAA-) at two hospitals between 2008 and 2014, and examined the association between the risk factors and the presence of AAA. Furthermore, in order to investigate the prevalence of AAA in each group, we enrolled 1126 patients with CKD and 400 patients with DM.</p><p>Results</p><p>The presence of CKD in patients with AAA+ was significantly higher than that in patients with AAA- (AAA+; 65%, AAA-; 52%, <i>P</i> = 0.004). The presence of DM in patients with AAA+ was significantly lower than that in patients with AAA- (AAA+; 17%, AAA-; 35%, <i>P</i> < 0.001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that hypertension, ischemic heart disease and CKD were independent determinants, whereas, DM was a negatively independent determinant, for the presence of AAA. The prevalence of AAA in patients with CKD 65 years old and above was 5.1%, whereas, that in patients with DM 65 years old and above was only 0.6%.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>CKD is a positively associated with the presence of AAA. In contrast, DM is a negatively associated with the presence of AAA in Japanese population.</p></div