Proteomic-biostatistic integrated approach for finding the underlying molecular determinants of hypertension in human plasma

Despite advancements in lowering blood pressure, the best approach to lower it remains controversial because of the lack of information on the molecular basis of hypertension. We, therefore, performed plasma proteomics of plasma from patients with hypertension to identify molecular determinants detectable in these subjects but not in controls and vice versa. Plasma samples from hypertensive subjects (cases; n=118) and controls (n=85) from the InGenious HyperCare cohort were used for this study and performed mass spectrometric analysis. Using biostatistical methods, plasma peptides specific for hypertension were identified, and a model was developed using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression. The underlying peptides were identified and sequenced off-line using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization orbitrap mass spectrometry. By comparison of the molecular composition of the plasma samples, 27 molecular determinants were identified differently expressed in cases from controls. Seventy percent of the molecular determinants selected were found to occur less likely in hypertensive patients. In cross-validation, the overall R(2) was 0.434, and the area under the curve was 0.891 with 95% confidence interval 0.8482 to 0.9349, P<0.0001. The mean values of the cross-validated proteomic score of normotensive and hypertensive patients were found to be -2.007±0.3568 and 3.383±0.2643, respectively, P<0.0001. The molecular determinants were successfully identified, and the proteomic model developed shows an excellent discriminatory ability between hypertensives and normotensives. The identified molecular determinants may be the starting point for further studies to clarify the molecular causes of hypertension

Advanced Tertiary Lymphoid Tissues in Protocol Biopsies are Associated with Progressive Graft Dysfunction in Kidney Transplant Recipients

移植腎の三次リンパ組織は腎予後と関連することを解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-11-02.[Background:] Tertiary lymphoid tissues (TLTs) are ectopic lymphoid tissues found in chronically inflamed organs. Although studies have documented TLT formation in transplanted kidneys, the clinical relevance of these TLTs remains controversial. We examined the impacts of TLTs on future graft function using our histological TLT maturity stages and the association between TLTs and Banff pathologic scores. We also analyzed the risk factors for the development of TLTs. [Methods:] Serial protocol biopsy samples (0-hour, 1-, 6-, and 12-months) without rejection were retrospectively analyzed from 214 patients who underwent living donor kidney transplantation. TLTs were defined as lymphocyte aggregates with signs of proliferation and their stages were determined by the absence (stage I) or presence (stage II) of follicular dendritic cells. [Results:] Only 4% of patients exhibited TLTs at the 0-hour biopsy. Prevalence increased to almost 50% at the 1-month biopsy and then slightly further for 12 months. The proportion of advanced stage II TLTs increased gradually, reaching 19% at the 12-month biopsy. Presence of stage II TLTs was associated with higher risk of renal function decline after transplantation compared to patients with no TLT or stage I TLTs. Stage II TLTs were associated with more severe tubulitis and interstitial fibrosis/tubular atrophy at 12 months and predicted poorer graft function independently from the degree of interstitial inflammation. Pre-transplantation rituximab treatment dramatically attenuated the development of stage II TLTs. [Conclusions:] TLTs are commonly found in clinically stable transplanted kidneys. Advanced stage II TLTs are associated with progressive graft dysfunction, independent of interstitial inflammation

Impact of daclizumab, low-dose cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil and steroids on renal function after kidney transplantation

Background. Early and long-term use of cyclosporine A (CsA) leads to increased risks of renal toxicity. We hypothesized that administration of daclizumab in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) allows a relevant reduction in the dose of CsA. Methods. We carried out a 3-year, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical multi-centre trial in 156 patients. The patients were randomized to standard treatment (CsA, MMF, steroids) or to high-dose daclizumab (first dose: 2 mg/kg), in combination with low-dose CsA, MMF and steroids. We maintained the mean CsA levels of daclizumab patients at 57% of standard patients (132 versus 216 ng/ml) on Day 7 post-transplant, and 84% by 6 months. Results. Primary outcome, creatinine clearance (with imputation of informative dropouts) at 12 months, was significantly better in daclizumab-treated (34 ± 17) than standard patients (29 ± 17; P = 0.028, two sided). Only 5 cases of BPAR were recorded in the daclizumab compared to 22 in the standard group (P = 0.0016). Daclizumab patients had 91% event-free survival after 1 year compared to 66% in standard patients (P = 0.00017). Conclusion. We demonstrate here that high-dose daclizumab in combination with lower CsA levels in adult renal transplant recipients is as or more effective than standard regimen (CsA, MMF, steroids) and may result in better outcomes at 12 months post-transplant with no increase in adverse reaction

Forward and backward diffraction radiation of relativistic electrons in a dielectric targets

BACKGROUND: Early and long-term use of cyclosporine A (CsA) leads to increased risks of renal toxicity. We hypothesized that administration of daclizumab in combination with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) allows a relevant reduction in the dose of CsA. METHODS: We carried out a 3-year, prospective, randomized, controlled clinical multi-centre trial in 156 patients. The patients were randomized to standard treatment (CsA, MMF, steroids) or to high-dose daclizumab (first dose: 2 mg/kg), in combination with low-dose CsA, MMF and steroids. We maintained the mean CsA levels of daclizumab patients at 57% of standard patients (132 versus 216 ng/ml) on Day 7 post-transplant, and 84% by 6 months. RESULTS: Primary outcome, creatinine clearance (with imputation of informative dropouts) at 12 months, was significantly better in daclizumab-treated (34 +/- 17) than standard patients (29 +/- 17; P = 0.028, two sided). Only 5 cases of BPAR were recorded in the daclizumab compared to 22 in the standard group (P = 0.0016). Daclizumab patients had 91% event-free survival after 1 year compared to 66% in standard patients (P = 0.00017). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate here that high-dose daclizumab in combination with lower CsA levels in adult renal transplant recipients is as or more effective than standard regimen (CsA, MMF, steroids) and may result in better outcomes at 12 months post-transplant with no increase in adverse reactions

Targeted-release budesonide versus placebo in patients with IgA nephropathy (NEFIGAN) : a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial

Background IgA nephropathy is thought to be associated with mucosal immune system dysfunction, which manifests as renal IgA deposition that leads to impairment and end-stage renal disease in 20-40% of patients within 10-20 years. In this trial (NEFIGAN) we aimed to assess safety and efficacy of a novel targeted-release formulation of budesonide (TRF-budesonide), designed to deliver the drug to the distal ileum in patients with IgA nephropathy. Methods We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial, comprised of 6-month run-in, 9-month treatment, and 3-month follow-up phases at 62 nephrology clinics across ten European countries. We recruited patients aged at least 18 years with biopsy-confirmed primary IgA nephropathy and persistent proteinuria despite optimised renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade. We randomly allocated patients with a computer algorithm, with a fixed block size of three, in a 1:1:1 ratio to 16 mg/day TRF-budesonide, 8 mg/day TRF-budesonide, or placebo, stratified by baseline urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR). Patients self-administered masked capsules, once daily, 1 h before breakfast during the treatment phase. All patients continued optimised RAS blockade treatment throughout the trial. Our primary outcome was mean change from baseline in UPCR for the 9-month treatment phase, which was assessed in the full analysis set, defined as all randomised patients who took at least one dose of trial medication and had at least one post-dose efficacy measurement. Safety was assessed in all patients who received the intervention. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01738035. Findings Between Dec 11, 2012, and June 25, 2015, 150 randomised patients were treated (safety set) and 149 patients were eligible for the full analysis set. Overall, at 9 months TRF-budesonide (16 mg/day plus 8 mg/day) was associated with a 24.4% (SEM 7.7%) decrease from baseline in mean UPCR (change in UPCR vs placebo 0.74; 95% CI 0.59-0.94; p=0.0066). At 9 months, mean UPCR had decreased by 27.3% in 48 patients who received 16 mg/day (0.71; 0.53-0.94; p=0.0092) and 21.5% in the 51 patients who received 8 mg/day (0.76; 0.58-1.01; p=0.0290); 50 patients who received placebo had an increase in mean UPCR of 2.7%. The effect was sustained throughout followup. Incidence of adverse events was similar in all groups (43 [88%] of 49 in the TRF-budesonide 16 mg/day group, 48 [94%] of 51 in the TRF-budesonide 8 mg/day, and 42 [84%] of 50 controls). Two of 13 serious adverse events were possibly associated with TRF-budesonide-deep vein thrombosis (16 mg/day) and unexplained deterioration in renal function in follow-up (patients were tapered from 16 mg/day to 8 mg/day over 2 weeks and follow-up was assessed 4 weeks later). Interpretation TRF-budesonide 16 mg/day, added to optimised RAS blockade, reduced proteinuria in patients with IgA nephropathy. This effect is indicative of a reduced risk of future progression to end-stage renal disease. TRF-budesonide could become the first specific treatment for IgA nephropathy targeting intestinal mucosal immunity upstream of disease manifestation.Peer reviewe

Geographic Differences in Genetic Susceptibility to IgA Nephropathy: GWAS Replication Study and Geospatial Risk Analysis

Peer reviewe

Detection of endotoxin-like interleukin-1-inducing activity during in vitro dialysis

Detection of endotoxin-like interleukin-1-inducing activity during in vitro dialysis. In order to study the integrity of dialysis membranes to pyrogens, the dialysate side of a closed loop hemodialysis (HD) circuit was challenged with E. coli microfiltrate containing 500 ng/ml endotoxin. Three solutions, a) tissue culture medium/saline, b) 5% human serum albumin, and c) 10% fresh human plasma, were circulated in the blood loop for five hours. Samples drawn from the blood side were assayed for interleukin-1 (IL-1)-inducing activity on human mononuclear cells (MNC) in vitro. No IL-1-inducing substances were detected when saline or culture medium was circulated in the blood loop. Circulating 5% human serum albumin revealed IL-1-inducing activity in the samples drawn only after five hours of HD. However, the addition of 10% fresh human plasma to the blood side resulted in the appearance of an IL-1-inducing substance(s) after 15 minutes of HD. After 30 minutes, maximum IL-1-inducing activity was observed (control stimulation index, 3.30 ± 0.67 SEM VS. 7.59 ± 1.50, (P < 0.02). The IL-1-inducing activity of the samples was completely inhibited by polymyxin B, a cationic antibiotic which blocks the IL-1-inducing activity of endotoxin. Additional experiments demonstrated that in vitro MNC IL-1-production induced by the same E. coli microfiltrate is enhanced in the presence of 10% plasma. These studies demonstrate that: (a) in the presence of plasma, IL-1-inducing factors pass into the blood compartment of a dialysis system challenged with bacterial pyrogen; and (b) MNC production of IL-1 is enhanced in the presence of plasma. Since the Limulus test is influenced by plasma, in vitro MNC-IL-1-production provides a more reliable and relevant assay to determine dialysis membrane permeability for pyrogens