Volume 13 Issue 12, December 2017

Uncontrolled hypertension is an important clinical problem and is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. A new report from the SPYRAL HTN-OFF MED researchers, which describes the use of renal denervation in patients with uncontrolled hypertension, might reignite enthusiasm for this technique, while a first-in-human description of endovascular baroreflex amplification from the CALM-FIM_EUR investigators highlights the potential of this new approach to inhibit sympathetic activity.

Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) are key mediators of several molecular and cellular responses that are activated under hypoxic conditions. New findings demonstrate an important role for the HIF system in mediating the activation and inflammatory responses of neutrophils through tight interaction with their glucose metabolism.

New data from the LEADER trial show that the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist liraglutide protects against diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The renoprotective efficacy of liraglutide is not, however, as great as that reported for the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor emplagiflozin in the EMPA-REG OUTCOME trial.

Extracellular vesicles in the urine have potential as disease biomarkers. This Review discusses the different types of extracellular vesicles and the optimization of approaches to enable their isolation and purification, and to characterize their composition by high-throughput 'omics' technologies.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by a variable rate of cyst development, variable kidney function decline and variable presentation of renal and extrarenal manifestations. In this Review, the authors discuss pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the treatment of patients with ADPKD and provide recommendations for the management of renal complications.

CD36 has important roles in lipid homeostasis, metabolic inflammation, reprogramming of energy metabolism, apoptosis and kidney fibrosis. Here, the authors discuss these roles as well as the regulation and post-translational modification of CD36 and its potential as a biomarker and a therapeutic target for kidney disease.