Review Articles in 2018

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) regulates phosphate homeostasis by modulating renal phosphate absorption, vitamin D metabolism and parathyroid hormone secretion. In this Review, Marc Vervloet discusses the role of FGF23 on phosphate regulation as well as its additional effects in the cardiovascular and immune systems.

Klotho proteins are crucial elements of the receptor complex for the endocrine fibroblast growth factors FGF19, FGF21 and FGF23. In this Review, Makoto Kuro-o discusses the functions of the FGF–Klotho endocrine systems in health and disease, including their role in ageing-related disorders.

This Review describes the epidemiology and mechanisms underlying the reciprocal relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The authors also discuss recommended treatment approaches for patients with HCV infection and CKD, and outline remaining issues in the field.

Autoimmune diseases and kidney transplantation can result in immune-mediated kidney pathology. In this Review, the authors discuss the roles of effector and regulatory B cells and the efficacy of B cell-targeting therapies in these settings.

The complement system has a key role in inflammatory reactions that occur before, during and after transplantation. Here, the authors discuss this role and highlight current and future strategies to regulate complement activation and potentially improve outcomes in kidney transplantation.

This Review focuses on the epidemiology, pathogenesis and treatment of dyslipidaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease. The authors discuss emerging clinical data on the use of novel lipid-lowering agents and reappraise the 2013 KDIGO Guidelines for Lipid Management in CKD.

Here, Johnson and Xue describe various physiological and psychosocial challenges that lead to the sensitization of hypertension. These challenges drive neuroplasticity in the brain network controlling sympathetic tone and blood pressure, and provide a new paradigm for understanding essential hypertension.

Here, Lam and colleagues review advances in understanding the pathogenesis of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Although rapalogues are effective cytostatic treatments for TSC, the unique metabolic vulnerabilities of cells lacking hamartin and/or tuberin might represent opportunities for developing cytocidal treatments.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a life-threatening complication in critically-ill neonates. This Review explores the evidence that intrauterine growth restriction, premature birth and low birth weight contribute to neonatal AKI, and discusses perinatal and postnatal risk factors that enhance the risk of AKI among neonates.

This Review explores the mechanistic links underlying the associations between HLA and kidney diseases. The authors discuss how these links might provide insights into disease pathogenesis and describe the clinical implications of these insights.

In this Review, Bonny and Firsov describe the circadian rhythmicity in various renal functions and how disruption or alteration of the circadian clock is associated with kidney dysfunction and disease.

In this plenary Review, Hoste and colleagues describe the global epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI). The influence of modifiable and non-modifiable AKI risk factors, delayed diagnosis, variation in diagnostic criteria and disparities in access to health care are also discussed.

In this Review, Caplan and colleagues describe the metabolic alterations in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and how these might be novel therapeutic targets in the treatment of polycystic kidney disease.

The application of precision gene editing has great potential to accelerate basic research and advance clinical practice in nephrology. Here, the authors discuss this technology and the challenges and potential of genome editing in the kidney.

This Review updates the evidence base for the administration of intravenous fluids to critically ill patients. Finfer and colleagues also discuss unresolved questions, such as whether buffered solutions are better than normal saline, and the benefits and harms of restrictive approaches to fluid administration.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have led to a paradigm shift in cancer therapy; however, these agents can induce immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in off-target organs. This Review describes the mechanism of action of ICI therapies and how these agents induce irAEs in the kidney and heart.

Improved understanding of HLAs together with advances in HLA typing and antibody detection techniques have enabled transplantation of sensitized patients. Here, the authors discuss these advances as well as novel approaches to desensitization, immunomodulation and tolerance induction.

Renal pericytes have important roles in kidney development, blood pressure regulation and the pathogenesis of kidney disease. Here, the authors review the embryonic development, adult tissue distribution and physiological and pathological roles of the various pericyte subsets in the kidney.

Mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (MSCs) have attracted much attention for their ability to regulate inflammatory processes. Here, Shi et al. discuss current understanding of the immunomodulatory mechanisms of MSCs and issues related to their therapeutic application.

Kidney transplant recipients have an increased risk of developing de novo or recurrent cancer compared with age-matched and gender-matched individuals from the general population. Here, Au et al. describe the epidemiology and outcomes of cancers in transplant recipients and discuss approaches to reduce cancer prevalence as well as post-transplantation cancer management, including approaches for modulating immunosuppression.