葶苈大枣泻肺汤加减对慢性心力衰竭患者尿液白蛋白/肌酐比值及炎症因子的影响

目的：探索葶苈大枣汤对慢性心力衰竭患者微量尿白蛋白及血浆炎症因子IL-6,C反应蛋白的影响。方法：70例诊断为慢性心力衰竭的患者（心功能Ⅱ~Ⅳ级）按心功能分级并随机分为中药＋心衰基础治疗组（治疗组）和心衰基础治疗对照组（对照组）,每组35例;在进行积极控制感染,改善心功能的基础上,对照组患者给予心衰的基础治疗（利尿剂＋β受体阻断剂＋ARB或ACEI）;治疗组在心衰基础治疗的基础上给予葶苈大枣汤加减进行治疗,每2周随访1次,观察周期为3月。治疗前后观察患者的心功能变化,尿微量白蛋白的变化,炎症因子IL-6,CRP的变化。结果：基线资料比较,两组患者无显著性差异;经3月的治疗后,治疗组患者心功能改善情况要好于对照组患者,P〈0.05;与对照组比较,葶苈大枣汤加减可显著降低慢性心力衰竭患者血浆IL-6,CRP水平,降低尿微量白蛋白水平,P均〈0.05,且与对照组比较,不良反应事件未见显著增加,P〉0.05。结论：对于慢性心力衰竭患者,在心衰基础治疗的基础上结合葶苈大枣汤加减治疗可显著提高对慢性心力衰竭患者的临床疗效,且安全性良好,值得临床推广。     

Apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress involved in diabetic kidney disease

Endoplasmic reticulum stress has been suggested to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. However, whether it is involved in the renal injury of diabetic nephropathy is still not known. We investigated the involvement of ER-associated apoptosis in kidney disease of streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We used albuminuria examination, hematoxylin & eosin (H&E) staining and TUNEL analysis to identify the existence of diabetic nephropathy and enhanced apoptosis. We performed immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and real-time PCR to analyze indicators of ER molecule chaperone and ER-associated apoptosis. GRP78, the ER chaperone, was up-regulated significantly in diabetic kidney compared to control. Furthermore, three hallmarks of ER-associated apoptosis, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and caspase-12, were found to have activated in the diabetic kidney. Taken together, those results suggested that apoptosis induced by ER stress occurred in diabetic kidney, which may contribute to the development of diabetic nephropathy.     

The lost correlation between heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuria

We aimed to study the relation between plasma levels of stress-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A) with plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1), and HDL-C/Apo-A1 ratio. In a matched case-control study on patients with diabetes (40 patients with albuminuria and 40 without albuminuria matched for age, sex, and body mass index), we observed that plasma levels of HSPA1A and PAI-1 are increased in patients with albuminuria (0.55 ± 0.02 vs. 0.77 ± 0.04 ng/ml, p value <0.001 for HSPA1A; 25.9 ± 2 vs. 31.8 ± 2.4 ng/ml, p value <0.05 for PAI-1). There was a significant correlation between HSPA1A and PAI-1 in diabetic patients without albuminuria (r = 0.28; p value = 0.04), but not in those with albuminuria (r = 0.07; p value = 0.63). No association was found between HSPA1A and HDL-C, between HSPA1A and Apo-A1, or between HSPA1A and HDL-C/Apo-A1 ratio. We concluded that there is a direct correlation between plasma HSPA1A and PAI-1 levels in patients with diabetes, which is lost when they develop albuminuria.     

Association between testosterone, estradiol and sex hormone binding globulin levels in men with type 1 diabetes with nephropathy

Male sex is a risk factor for development and progression of diabetic nephropathy; however, the relationship between sex hormone levels and diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic men is unknown. This was a prospective follow-up study as part of the nationwide Finnish Diabetic Nephropathy (FinnDiane) Study; 297 patients were followed for 5.9 ± 1.5 years. Serum total testosterone (Tt) and estradiol (Te), calculated free testosterone (cFt) and estradiol (cFe) and sex hormone binding globulin were measured at baseline and correlated with urinary albumin excretion rate, estimated glomerular filtration rate and markers of metabolic syndrome. Diabetes without renal disease was associated with decreased Tt (p < 0.001), Te (p < 0.001) and cFt (p = 0.001) levels compared with healthy non-diabetic men. With progression of renal disease from micro- to macroalbuminuria, this decrease in serum Tt was even more pronounced. Cox regression showed that cFt and cFe were independent predictors of the progression from macroalbuminuria to end-stage renal disease. Our study shows that men with type 1 diabetes exhibit dysregulated sex hormone levels, which is most pronounced in men with progressive renal disease, suggesting that sex hormones may play a role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy associated with type 1 diabetes.     

Urinary proteomics in chronic kidney disease: diagnosis and risk of progression beyond albuminuria

Background

The contrast between a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the low incidence of end-stage renal disease highlights the need for new biomarkers of progression beyond albuminuria testing. Urinary proteomics is a promising method, but more studies focusing on progression rate and patients with hypertensive nephropathy are needed.

Results

We analyzed urine samples with capillary electrophoresis coupled to a mass-spectrometer from 18 well characterized patients with CKD stage 4–5 (of whom six with hypertensive nephropathy) and 17 healthy controls. Classification scores based on a previously developed panel of 273 urinary peptides were calculated and compared to urine albumin dipstick results. Urinary proteomics classified CKD with a sensitivity of 0.95 and specificity of 1.00. Overall diagnostic accuracy (area under ROC curve) was 0.98, which was better than for albuminuria (0.85, p = 0.02). Results for hypertensive nephropathy were similar to other CKD diagnoses. Adding the proteomic score to an albuminuria model improved detection of rapid kidney function decline (>4 ml/min/1.73 m² per year) substantially: area under ROC curve increased from 0.762 to 0.909 (p = 0.042), and 38% of rapid progressors were correctly reclassified to a higher risk and 55% of slow progressors were correctly reclassified to a lower risk category. Reduced excretion of collagen types I–III, uromodulin, and other indicators of interstitial inflammation, fibrosis and tubular dysfunction were associated with CKD diagnosis and rapid progression. Patients with hypertensive nephropathy displayed the same findings as other types of CKD.

Conclusions

Urinary proteomic analyses had a high diagnostic accuracy for CKD, including hypertensive nephropathy, and strongly improved identification of patients with rapid kidney function decline beyond albuminuria testing.     

Characterization of transgenic rats constitutively expressing vitamin D-24-hydroxylase gene

Vitamin D-24-hydroxylase (CYP24) is one of the enzymes responsible for vitamin D metabolism. CYP24 catalyzes the conversion of 25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) [25(OH)D(3)] to 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [24,25(OH)(2)D(3)] in the kidney. CYP24 is also involved in the breakdown of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)], the active form of vitamin D(3). In this study, we generated transgenic (Tg) rats constitutively expressing CYP24 gene to investigate the biological role of CYP24 in vivo. Surprisingly, the Tg rats showed a significantly low level of plasma 24,25(OH)(2)D(3). Furthermore, the Tg rats developed albuminuria and hyperlipidemia shortly after weaning. The plasma lipid profile revealed that all lipoprotein fractions were elevated in the Tg rats. Also, the Tg rats showed atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta, which greatly progressed with high-fat and high-cholesterol feeding. These unexpected results suggest that CYP24 is involved in functions other than the regulation of vitamin D metabolism.     

糖尿病肾脏病与血纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1的相互影响

目的：观察糖尿痛肾脏病进展过程中血纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1的水平变化及应用药物干预其变化后产生的对糖尿病肾脏病的影响。方法：选择于聊城市人民医院就诊的糖尿病肾脏病患者88例,DKDⅢ期43例,DKDⅣ期45例。分别检测各期患者血PAI-1水平,观察其变化趋势。针对DKDⅢ期患者分为对照组（DKDⅢ-C组）和观察组（DKDⅢ-O组）,对照组给予常规降糖、保护肾脏及血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂等药物治疗。观察组在对照组治疗的基础上给予尿激酶5万U加入100ml生理盐水静脉滴注,每天1次。共14d。比较两组治疗前后血PAI-1水平、24h尿白蛋白量、血肌酐、空腹血糖和凝血酶原时间的变化。结果：DKDⅣ期患者血PAI-1水平明显高于DKDⅢ期患者（P〈0．001）。DKDⅢ-O组患者治疗后血PAI-1水平下降（P〈0．01）,且尿白蛋白减少程度有统计学意义（P〈0．01）,空腹血糖、血肌酐、凝血酶原时间影响无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。DKDⅢ-C组治疗前、后血PAI-1、24h尿白蛋白量、空腹血糖、血肌酐、凝血酶原时间变化均无统计学差异（P〉0．05）。结论：随糖尿病肾脏病进展,血PAI-1水平呈上升趋势,应用药物降低其水平后可减少早期DKD患者尿白蛋白量,对保护肾功能、延缓肾脏病进展有积极意义。     

糖尿病肾脏病与血纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1的相互影响

目的:观察糖尿病肾脏病进展过程中血纤溶酶原激活物抑制剂-1的水平变化及应用药物干预其变化后产生的对糖尿病肾脏病的影响。方法:选择于聊城市人民医院就诊的糖尿病肾脏病患者88例,DKDⅢ期43例,DKDⅣ期45例。分别检测各期患者血PAI-1水平,观察其变化趋势。针对DKDⅢ期患者分为对照组(DKDⅢ-C组)和观察组(DKDⅢ-O组),对照组给予常规降糖、保护肾脏及血管紧张素转化酶抑制剂等药物治疗。观察组在对照组治疗的基础上给予尿激酶5万U加入100ml生理盐水静脉滴注,每天1次,共14d。比较两组治疗前后血PAI-1水平、24 h尿白蛋白量、血肌酐、空腹血糖和凝血酶原时间的变化。结果:DKDⅣ期患者血PAI-1水平明显高于DKDⅢ期患者(P<0.001)。DKDⅢ-O组患者治疗后血PAI-1水平下降(P<0.01),且尿白蛋白减少程度有统计学意义(P<0.01),空腹血糖、血肌酐、凝血酶原时间影响无统计学差异(P>0.05)。DKDⅢ-C组治疗前、后血PAI-1、24h尿白蛋白量、空腹血糖、血肌酐、凝血酶原时间变化均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:随糖尿病肾脏病进展,血PAI-1水平呈上升趋势,应用药物降低其水平后可减少早期DKD患者尿白蛋白量,对保护肾功能、延缓肾脏病进展有积极意义。     

Phosphotriesterase-related protein sensed albuminuria and conferred renal tubular cell activation in membranous nephropathy

Background

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome that may progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The formation of MN involves the in situ formation of subepithelial immune deposits and leads to albuminuria; however, the underlying mechanism of how MN leads to ESRD remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and biological functions of phosphotriesterase-related protein (PTER) in MN.

Results

In the progression of MN, the expression of PTER increased significantly and was mainly expressed in the renal tubular cells. Both mRNA and protein expression levels of PTER were increased in a concentration- and time-dependent manner in the in vitro albuminuria tubular cell model. Silencing the expression of PTER by RNA interference diminished albuminuria-induced inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines production.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal that PTER may sense albuminuria in the progression of MN, induce tubular cell activation and lead to ESRD.     

Heat shock protein 70 and albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes: a matched case control study

Here, we aimed to study serum heat shock protein (HSP) 70 levels in diabetic patients with and without albuminuria. We performed a 1:1 matched case control study on 40 diabetic patients with albuminuria as cases and 40 age, sex, body mass index matched diabetic patients without albuminuria (normoalbuminuria) as controls. Normoalbuminuria was defined as urinary albumin excretion rate <15 mg/12 h, and albuminuria was defined as urinary albumin excretion rate between 100–400 mg/12 h. Patients with albuminuria had a higher HSP70 than controls (0.83 ± 0.50 vs. 0.63 ± 0.06; p = 0.02), while they did not differ in any other studied variables. In ten of the studied pairs, the controls had higher HSP70 levels than cases (reverse relationship). Patients in the “direct relationship group” had higher HbA1c values than the patients in the “reverse relationship group” (8.9 ± 0.3 vs. 7.3 ± 0.6, p = 0.04). Cases in the reverse pairs had a lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than their controls. The odds ratio of HSP70 in the prediction of albuminuria was (28.69 (3.2–250.1), p = 0.002). In conclusion, we have shown an increased HSP70 levels in diabetic patients with albuminuria.