Midkine antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide inhibits renal damage induced by ischemic reperfusion

Midkine antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide inhibits renal damage induced by ischemic reperfusion.BackgroundMidkine, a heparin-binding growth factor, is involved in the migration of inflammatory cells. The inflammatory cell migration to the tubulointerstitium of the kidney after ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is attenuated in midkine gene–deficient mice, resulting in better preservation of the tubulointerstitium compared with wild-type mice. In the present investigation, we planned to evaluate the usefulness of antisense midkine for the therapy of ischemic renal failure.MethodsMidkine antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) at a dose of 1 mg/kg in saline was intravenously administered to mice 1 day before or after I/R. The kidneys were removed for examination 1, 2, 3, and 7 days after I/R.ResultsIt was rapidly incorporated into proximal tubular epithelial cells, and inhibited midkine synthesis, leading to reduced migration of inflammatory cells to the injured epithelial layer. Consequently, the midkine antisense ODN-treated animals exhibited less severe renal damage than untreated or midkine sense ODN-treated animals 2 days after I/R as assessed by morphologic criteria and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine levels. Midkine expression, BUN, and serum creatinine levels were not significantly different between injection of midkine antisense ODN before and after ischemic injury.ConclusionThese results indicate that intravenous injection of midkine antisense ODN is a candidate for a novel therapeutic strategy against acute tubulointerstitial injury induced by I/R injury

Uncoupling of VEGF with endothelial NO as a potential mechanism for abnormal angiogenesis in the diabetic nephropathy.

Abnormal angiogenesis is a well characterized complication in diabetic retinopathy and is now recognized as a feature of diabetic nephropathy. The primary growth factor driving the increased angiogenesis in diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). While VEGF is considered an important growth factor for maintaining glomerular capillary integrity and function, increased action of VEGF in diabetic renal disease may carry adverse consequences. Studies by our group suggest that the effects of VEGF are amplified in the setting of endothelial dysfunction and low nitric oxide (NO) levels, which are a common feature in the diabetic state. The lack of NO may amplify the effects of VEGF to induce inflammation (via effects on the macrophage) and may lead to dysregulation of the vasculature, exacerbating features of diabetic renal disease. In this review, we summarize how an "uncoupling" of the VEGF-NO axis may contribute to the pathology of the diabetic kidney

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis in patients with IgG4-related kidney disease: pathological findings on repeat renal biopsy

Renal parenchymal lesions in patients with IgG4-related kidney disease (IgG4-RKD) are characterized by tubulointerstitial nephritis with storiform fibrosis and infiltration by high numbers of IgG4-positive plasma cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and pathological effects of corticosteroid therapy in patients with IgG4-RKD. Of six patients who were diagnosed with IgG4-RKD, four patients underwent re-biopsy at approximately 30-50 days after corticosteroid therapy was initiated. Based on the classification of Yamaguchi et al., the degree of tubulointerstitial fibrosis was classified before and after therapy. In addition, tubulointerstitial expression patterns of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), collagen I, III, and IV protein, and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA were examined. Histopathological findings before treatment showed alpha-SMA-positive myofibroblasts in the lesion, and CTGF mRNA-positive cells were found in the cellular infiltrate. Although corticosteroid therapy improved serum creatinine clinically, the stage of fibrosis advanced pathologically as evidenced by increased staining for collagen I and III. However, the number of IgG4-positive plasma cells decreased, and CTGF mRNA expression reduced. In other words, fibrosis had advanced from the time of extensive cell infiltration in patients with IgG4-RKD and inflammation was relieved by corticosteroid. A reduced number of positive CTGF mRNA expression cells in repeat biopsies indicated that the fibrosis process was terminated by corticosteroid therapy. We propose that corticosteroid therapy could terminate the pathway of active fibrosis, thereby inhibiting progression to renal dysfunctio

The E-Selectin Ligand Basigin/CD147 Is Responsible for Neutrophil Recruitment in Renal Ischemia/Reperfusion

E-selectin and its ligands are essential for extravasation of leukocytes in inflammation. Here, we report that basigin (Bsg)/CD147 is a ligand for E-selectin that promotes renal inflammation in ischemia/reperfusion. Compared with wild-type mice, Bsg-deficient (Bsg−/−) mice demonstrated striking suppression of neutrophil infiltration in the kidney after renal ischemia/reperfusion. Although E-selectin expression increased similarly between the two genotypes, Bsg−/− mice exhibited less renal damage, suggesting that Bsg on neutrophils contribute to renal injury in this model. Neutrophils expressed Bsg with N-linked polylactosamine chains and Bsg−/− neutrophils showed reduced binding to E-selectin. Bsg isolated from HL-60 cells bound to E-selectin, and tunicamycin treatment to abolish N-linked glycans from Bsg abrogated this binding. Furthermore, Bsg−/− neutrophils exhibited reduced E-selectin-dependent adherence to human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. Injection of labeled neutrophils into mice showed that Bsg−/− neutrophils were less readily recruited to the kidney after renal ischemia/reperfusion than Bsg+/+ neutrophils, regardless of the recipient's genotype. Taken together, these results indicate that Bsg is a physiologic ligand for E-selectin that plays a critical role in the renal damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion