Web Focus
Renal Pathology
- For this web focus, the first for Laboratory Investigation, the editors have chosen the topic of renal pathology. We have gathered the most persuasive articles published in the last two years, as selected by Associate Editor Agnes B. Fogo, M.D.
Laboratory Investigation is an international journal owned by the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, whose prime mission is to publish original manuscripts and review articles in the broad area of translational and basic research as is related to experimental pathology.
Renal parenchymal scarring is the most important indicator of poor prognosis in both immune and non-immune mediated renal diseases. The majority of patients with chronic kidney disease ultimately require renal replacement therapy with either dialysis or kidney transplantation to sustain life. Exploring pathways leading to these relentless injury processes or to repair mechanisms are therefore topics of particular interest. Two of the selected articles focus on such potential mechanisms and shed light on novel markers involved in pathogenesis and progression of chronic renal diseases, exploring the roles of inflammatory cytokines and microRNAs in the kidney (Ichii et al. and Wang et al. respectively). Another article with a similar theme (Zhang et al.) specifically details molecular mechanisms involved in hypercholesterolemia-induced chronic kidney disease, including proinflammatory cytokine production and pericyte transdifferentiation into myofibroblasts, the major source of collagen.
Several interesting animal models have been introduced that shed light on the deleterious effect of low nephron number (Wang et al.), the consequences of excessive oxygen-derived free radicals in glycogen storage disease in the kidney (Yiu et al.), the impact of the Ren2 gene on diabetes (Apelhoff et al.), the relationship between podocyte injury and the TNF-α and NF-κβ signaling pathways (Bruggeman et al.), and the effect of age-related mitochondrial damage (Satoh et al).
Another novel animal model establishes the role of OAT1 and MRP4 transporters in tenofovir nephrotoxicity (Kohler et al.). Another mouse model contributes to our understanding of the kidney-specific effects of glycogen synthase kinase3β (Ge et al.)
Other important themes explored include the role of macrophages and inflammatory stimuli in renal injury (Han et al. and Li et al.), and beneficial effects of blocking the β2-kinin receptor and PPAR-γ agonist with decreased inflammation (Tang et al.). The key role of VEGF in capillary repair (Masuda et al.) is also illuminated.
Several studies are relevant to increase understanding of mechanisms of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (Kuipers et al). Some studies suggest potential novel targets, such as epimorphin in the repair/ reversal of interstitial fibrosis and PKD-1 inactivation for cardiovascular disease in polycystic kidney disease (Yamada et al. and Hassane et al. respectively).
Laboratory Investigation will continue to publish influential articles in the field of renal pathology. In the coming months, look for papers covering this broad range of topics: an animal model that offers insights into the early development of glomerular nephropathies; a description of how the unfolded protein response in podocytes may lead to nephrotic syndrome; a method devised to allow label-free, in vivo imaging of kidney blood flow; a potential therapeutic agent for treating cisplatin nephrotoxicity; a novel treatment for abrogation of proteinuria in rat nephrotoxic serum nephritis; a mechanism that may allow podocytes to better withstand an adverse high-glucose or angiotensin II-rich environment; and a protocol that employs microvascular density as a predictor of clinical outcome in renal cell carcinoma.
Huma Fatima, M.D.
Guest Editor
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: 2010
Intrarenal expression of microRNAs in patients with IgA nephropathy FREE
Wang, G; Kwan, BCH; Lai, FMM; Choi, PCL; Chow, KM; Li, PKT; Szeto, CC
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 98-103; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2009.118
Nephron-deficient Fvb mice develop rapidly progressive renal failure and heavy albuminuria involving excess glomerular GLUT1 and VEGF FREE
Wang, YL; Heilig, KO; Minto, AW; Chen, SL; Xiang, MH; Dean, DA; Geiger, RC; Chang, A; Pravtcheva, DD; Schlimme, M; Deb, DK; Wang, Y; Heilig, CW
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 83-97; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2009.95
Local overexpression of interleukin-1 family, member 6 relates to the development of tubulointerstitial lesions FREE
Ichii, O; Otsuka, S; Sasaki, N; Yabuki, A; Ohta, H; Takiguchi, M; Hashimoto, Y; Endoh, D; Kon, Y
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 459-475; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2009.148
Low-dose paclitaxel ameliorates renal fibrosis in rat UUO model by inhibition of TGF-beta/Smad activity FREE
Zhang, DS; Sun, L; Xian, W; Liu, FY; Ling, GH; Xiao, L; Liu, YH; Peng, YM; Haruna, Y; Kanwar, YS
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 436-447; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2009.149
Activation of liver X receptor-alpha reduces activation of the renal and cardiac renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system FREE
Kuipers, I; van der Harst, P; Kuipers, F; van Genne, L; Goris, M; Lehtonen, JY; van Veldhuisen, DJ; van Gilst, WH; de Boer, RA
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 630-636; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.7
Oxidative stress mediates nephropathy in type Ia glycogen storage disease FREE
Yiu, WH; Mead, PA; Jun, HS; Mansfield, BC; Chou, JY
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 620-629; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.38
Involvement of epimorphin in the repair of experimental renal fibrosis in mice FREE
Yamada, M; Oda, T; Higashi, K; Kushiyama, T; Yamakami, K; Sakurai, Y; Hirai, Y; Yamamoto, K; Hyodo, T; Suzuki, S; Miura, S; Kumagai, H
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 867-880; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.50
Differential contribution of diabetes and the Ren2 gene to glomerular pathology in diabetic (mREN-2)27 rats FREE
Appelhoff, RJ; Hill, JV; Findon, G; Frampton, CM; Perry, E; Ponnamperuma, D; Endre, ZH
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 1225-1235; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.96
Inhibition of capillary repair in proliferative glomerulonephritis results in persistent glomerular inflammation with glomerular sclerosis FREE
Masuda, Y; Shimizu, A; Kataoka, M; Arai, T; Ishikawa, A; Du, XY; Saito, SK; Aki, K; Nagasaka, S; Mii, A; Fujita, E; Fukuda, Y
Laboratory Investigation (2010) 90, 1468-1481; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.130
: 2011
Top of pagePkd1-inactivation in vascular smooth muscle cells and adaptation to hypertension FREE
Hassane, S; Claij, N; Jodar, M; Dedman, A; Lauritzen, I; Duprat, F; Koenderman, JS; van der Wal, A; Breuning, MH; de Heer, E; Honore, E; DeRuiter, MC; Peters, DJM
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 24-32; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.159
Conditional ablation of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta in postnatal mouse kidney FREE
Ge, Y; Si, J; Tian, L; Zhuang, SG; Dworkin, LD; Gong, RJ
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 85-96; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.142
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha 1 promotes calpain-1 activation and macrophage inflammation in hypercholesterolemic nephropathy FREE
Zhang, GQ; Thomas, AL; Marshall, AL; Kernan, KA; Su, YY; Zheng, Y; Takano, J; Saido, TC; Eddy, AA
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 106-123; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.135
Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases reduces ischemia-reperfusion acute kidney injury FREE
Kunugi, S; Shimizu, A; Kuwahara, N; Du, X; Takahashi, M; Terasaki, Y; Fujita, E; Mii, A; Nagasaka, S; Akimoto, T; Masuda, Y; Fukuda, Y
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 170-180; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.174
Mitochondrial damage-induced impairment of angiogenesis in the aging rat kidney FREE
Satoh, M; Fujimoto, S; Horike, H; Ozeki, M; Nagasu, H; Tomita, N; Sasaki, T; Kashihara, N
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 190-202; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.175
TNFR2 interposes the proliferative and NF-kappa B-mediated inflammatory response by podocytes to TNF-alpha FREE
Bruggeman, LA; Drawz, PE; Kahoud, N; Lin, K; Barisoni, L; Nelson, PJ
Laboratory Investigation(2011) 91, 413-425; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2010.199
C-reactive protein promotes acute renal inflammation and fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstructive nephropathy in mice FREE
Li, Z; Chung, ACK; Zhou, L; Huang, XR; Liu, F; Fu, P; Fan, JM; Szalai, AJ; Lan, HY
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 837-851; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2011.42
Tenofovir renal proximal tubular toxicity is regulated By OAT1 and MRP4 transporters FREE
Kohler, JJ; Hosseini, SH; Green, E; Abuin, A; Ludaway, T; Russ, R; Santoianni, R; Lewis, W
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 852-858; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2011.48
c-fms blockade reverses glomerular macrophage infiltration and halts development of crescentic anti-GBM glomerulonephritis in the rat FREE
Han, YJ; Ma, FY; Tesch, GH; Manthey, CL; Nikolic-Paterson, DJ
Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 978-991; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2011.61
Additive renoprotective effects of B2-kinin receptor blocker and PPAR-γ agonist in uninephrectomized db/db mice FREE
Sydney C W Tang, Loretta Y Y Chan, Joseph C K Leung, Amy Shan Cheng, Hui Yao Lan and Kar Neng Lai
Laboratory Investigation advance online publication, 2 May 2011; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2011.81