Perivascular mesenchymal cells (PMCs), which include pericytes, give rise to myofibroblasts that contribute to chronic kidney disease progression. Several PMC markers have been identified; however, ...PMC heterogeneity and functions are not fully understood. Here, we describe a novel subset of renal PMCs that express Meflin, a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored protein that was recently identified as a marker of fibroblasts essential for cardiac tissue repair. Tracing the lineage of Meflin
PMCs, which are found in perivascular and periglomerular areas and exhibit renin-producing potential, showed that they detach from the vasculature and proliferate under disease conditions. Although the contribution of Meflin
PMCs to conventional α-SMA
myofibroblasts is low, they give rise to fibroblasts with heterogeneous α-SMA expression patterns. Genetic ablation of Meflin
PMCs in a renal fibrosis mouse model revealed their essential role in collagen production. Consistent with this, human biopsy samples showed that progressive renal diseases exhibit high Meflin expression. Furthermore, Meflin overexpression in kidney fibroblasts promoted bone morphogenetic protein 7 signals and suppressed myofibroblastic differentiation, implicating the roles of Meflin in suppressing tissue fibrosis. These findings demonstrate that Meflin marks a PMC subset that is functionally distinct from classic pericytes and myofibroblasts, highlighting the importance of elucidating PMC heterogeneity.
Background
The Oxford Classification is utilized globally, but has not been fully validated. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis between the Oxford Classification and Japanese ...Histologic Classification (JHC) to predict renal outcome in Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN).
Methods
A retrospective cohort study including 86 adult IgAN patients was conducted. The Oxford Classification and the JHC were evaluated by 7 independent specialists. The JHC, MEST score in the Oxford Classification, and crescents were analyzed in association with renal outcome, defined as a 50% increase in serum creatinine.
Results
In multivariate analysis without the JHC, only the T score was significantly associated with renal outcome. While, a significant association was revealed only in the JHC on multivariate analysis with JHC.
Conclusions
The JHC and T score in the Oxford Classification were associated with renal outcome among Japanese patients with IgAN. Superiority of the JHC as a predictive index should be validated with larger study population and cohort studies in different ethnicities.
CD34+ cells maintain vascular homeostasis and predict cardiovascular outcomes. We previously evaluated the association of CD34+ cells with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events over 23 months, but ...long-term CVD outcomes in relation to levels of CD34+ cells in patients on maintenance hemodialysis are unclear. Herein, we analyzed the long-term predictive potential levels of CD34+ cells for CVD outcomes and all-cause mortality. Between March 2005 and May 2005, we enrolled 215 patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Nagoya Kyoritsu Hospital and followed them up to 12.8 years. According to the CD34+ cell counts, patients were classified into the lowest, medium, and highest tertiles. Levels of CD34+ cells were analyzed in association with four-point major adverse CV events (MACEs), CVD death, and all-cause mortality. In univariate analysis age, smoking habit, lower geriatric nutrition risk index, lower calcium × phosphate product, and lower intact parathyroid hormone were significantly associated with the lowest tertile. Whereas, in multivariate analysis, age and smoking habit were significantly associated with the lowest tertile. Among 139 (64.7%) patients who died during a mean follow-up period of 8.0 years, 39 (28.1%) patients died from CVD. Patients in the lowest tertile had a significantly lower survival rate than those in the medium and highest tertiles (p ≤ 0.001). Using multivariable analyses, the lowest tertile was significantly associated with four-point MACEs (hazard ratio 1.80, p = 0.023) and CVD death (hazard ratio 2.50, p = 0.011). In conclusion, our long-term observational study revealed that a low level of CD34+ cells in the circulation predicts CVD outcomes among patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
Predictive values of mesangial proliferation (M), endocapillary proliferation (E), segmental glomerulosclerosis (S), and crescents (C) among 19 validation studies of the Oxford Classification of IgA ...nephropathy (IgAN) were discrepant, especially in Asian patients. These validation studies indicate that cutoffs of MESC score in the Oxford Classification may not be generalizable. Thus, we aimed to improve the clinical value of MESC scores by modifying the cutoff points. A total of 104 patients with IgAN were diagnosed from 2001 to 2012 vai renal biopsy and retrospectively evaluated at Nagoya University Hospital. The cutoff point for modified (M´E´S´C´) was determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve in association with renal outcome in the training cohort. Clinical values of the Oxford MESTC vs M´E´S´C´ cutoff points were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression in association with poor renal outcome in the validation and the entire cohort. Of 104 patients, 12.5% reached poor renal outcome over a median of 6.25 4.16-9.61 years of follow-up. The modified cutoffs were defined as ≥40%, ≥10%, ≥20%, and ≥5% in the glomeruli for M´E´S´, and C´ respectively. In univariate analysis, E´, S ´, and T were significantly associated with poor renal outcome, whereas Oxford MESC, M´, and C´ in the training and validation cohort were not associated with poor renal outcome. Using multivariate analysis in the presence of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), only E´ was a significant predictive factor for poor renal outcome. The E´ with modified cutoff point of 10% significantly improved predictive value for poor renal outcome in IgAN. Therefore, the clinical value of modified cutoff points for M´E´S´C´ scores should be validated with various cohort studies in different regions.
Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) is a form of small vessel vasculitis associated with purpura and IgA deposition in the glomeruli. The International Study of Kidney Disease in Children ...(ISKDC) classification predicts renal prognosis in children with HSPN, but not in adults. Additionally, it is not well known whether the Oxford classification 2016 and/or the Japanese Histologic classification (JHC) are associated with renal outcome. Herein, we investigated the relationship between pathological characteristics and renal outcome among adult patients with HSPN.
A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted in adult patients with HSPN who underwent renal biopsy between 2004 and 2014. Two nephrologists classified each patient according to the Oxford classification 2016, JHC, and the ISKDC classification. Renal outcome was defined by a 30% decline in the eGFR and/or end-stage kidney disease.
We enrolled 74 adult patients with HSPN (mean age, 47.8 ± 17.4 years; mean eGFR, 76.4 ± 25.8 ml/min/1.73 m
; median proteinuria, 1.40 IQR: 0.70-2.38 g/day). During a mean follow-up period of 68.0 ± 33.0 months, fourteen patients (18.9%) reached the renal outcome, and all 14 had received immunosuppressive therapy. The log-rank test revealed that event-free renal survival was significantly shorter in patients with endocapillary proliferation (E1) according to the Oxford classification than in those with E0 (p = 0.0072). However, the JHC, ISKDC classification and other Oxford lesions could not demonstrate a significant difference in event-free renal survival. In a multivariate Cox model adjusted for clinical and pathological factors, age (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.12-2.21) and E lesion (HR, 6.71; 95% CI, 1.06-42.7) were independent risk factors for renal outcome.
Endocapillary proliferation is significantly associated with renal outcome in adult patients with HSPN, including those receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Other Oxford classification lesions, JHC, and ISKDC classification were not associated with renal outcome.
Proteinuria is a powerful prognostic factor for end-stage renal disease in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients. However, it is not known whether proteinuria exacerbations are related to seasonal changes.
...We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients diagnosed with IgAN by kidney biopsy at our hospital between 2002 and 2014. Proteinuria remission was defined as urinary protein <0.3 g/gCr in two consecutive outpatient urinalyses and exacerbation as urinary protein ≥0.75 g/gCr. Four seasons were defined: spring (March-May), summer (June-August), autumn (September-November), and winter (December-February). We performed a multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with the second remission following a proteinuria exacerbation.
We analyzed 116 patients. Proteinuria remission and exacerbation occurred in 77, and 43 patients, respectively. The incidence of proteinuria exacerbation was significantly higher in autumn and winter than in spring and summer (p = 0.040). The cumulative second remission rate was significantly higher in patients with autumn and winter proteinuria exacerbation than in patients with spring and summer exacerbations (p = 0.0091). In multivariate analyses, exacerbation onset in autumn and winter (hazard ratio HR, 3.51; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.41-8.74) and intensive therapy (HR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.05-4.88) were significantly associated with a second proteinuria remission.
In IgAN patients in proteinuria remission, proteinuria exacerbation frequently occurred in autumn and winter. Exacerbations occurring in autumn and winter tended to remit early.
Abstract Background and Aims IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most common glomerulonephritis worldwide, especially in the Pacific Rim and Mediterranean countries. Hematuria is almost inevitable ...clinical findings and massive proteinuria is well established risk factor in IgAN. However, a few studies reported hematuria and proteinuria remission in IgAN, and their definition varies in clinical studies. The Japanese Society of Nephrology (JSN) defined new criteria for hematuria and proteinuria remission and relapse for IgAN patients. The objective of the present study was to analyze the utility of JSN criteria to predict renal prognosis among IgAN patients after immunosuppressive treatment. Method One hundred IgAN patients were recruited between 2003 and 2014 at Nagoya University Hospital and followed up until December 2017. According to JSN criteria, hematuria remission (HR) and proteinuria remission (PR) are defined as < 5 RBC/HPF, and < 0.3 g/g Cr, in three consecutive urine exams over six months of observation, respectively. Clinical remission (CR) is defined as both HR and PR in 3 consecutive urinalysis over six months. HR, PR and CR were analysed with 30% eGFR decline as a renal outcome. Results Baseline proteinuria, serum creatinine, and eGFR were 1.3g/day, 0.8 mg/dL, and 80 mL/min/1.73 m2. The mean age was 34.7 ± 12.5 years old, and 61% of the study population was female. Seventy-two percent of patients received intensive methylprednisolone pulse therapy (mPSL), and the incidence of HR, PR and CR were 76, 50 and 46%, 50%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier curves analyses showed a significant difference between HR and non-HR, PR and non-PR, and CR and non-CR groups (Fig.). In univariate analyses, hypertension, eGFR, HR, PR, CR, and T-score in the Oxford classification of IgAN were significantly associated with renal outcome. In multivariate Model-A, HR, and PR were significant factors for renal outcome after adjusting with sex, hypertension, eGFR and T-score. While in multivariate model-B, CR was also significantly associated with renal outcome after adjustment (Table). However, 36% and 46% of patients demonstrated hematuria and proteinuria relapses after remission. Conclusion JSN novel criteria for HR and PR predict renal outcomes in IgAN patients. Further studies are required to verify their clinical utility of JSN criteria in a larger sample size with different ethnicities.
Abstract
Background and Aims
Uremic toxins have been highlighted as serious risk factors for deterioration of renal function and onset/progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Serum level of ...indoxyl sulphate (IS), a major uremic toxin, was demonstrated its significant association with vascular disease and mortality in a cohort of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, however, IS has not been available in clinical setting due to time consuming and expensive measurement cost. Recently epoch-making IS measurement method applicable for general auto analyzer has been developed, which could explore new therapeutic avenue in CKD from the view point of uremic toxin management.
In this study, clinical utility of new enzymatic IS measurement method was analyzed in association with renal function and CVD among CKD patients.
Method
Subjects were consecutive 150 CKD patients in Nagoya University Hospital whose serum samples were collected between 2009 and 2014. Serum IS levels were measured by “NIPRO” reagent and analyzed with eGFR, CVD events and renal outcomes defined by 30% decrease in eGFR.
Results
Characteristics of patients were 69 ± 10 years old, 29% female, eGFR: 44 ± 20 mL/min/1.73m2 (∼G3a: 43％, G3b: 29％, G4: 24％, Ｇ5: 4％), proteinuria 2.8 ± 3. 5ｇ/ｇCr (A1: 29％, A2: 29％, A3: 42％), HTN: 83％, and DM: 39％. Serum IS levels (μmol/L) were 10.5 ± 7.5 (∼G3a: 1.8 ± 0.6, G3b: 2.1 ± 0.6, G4: 15.8 ± 8.1, Ｇ5: 22.9 ± 13.5), and strongly correlated with eGFR (r =0.518, P<0.001). Among IS low (<6), middle and high (≥12) tertiles, significantly different factors were age, eGFR, Hb, iPTH and LDL-C. In multiple logistic regression analysis, only eGFR was significant associating factor with IS tertiles. IS levels in 2 patients prescribed AST-120 (Kremezin) were 8.1 and 10.3, which seems to be very low in comparison to their eGFR of 13.8 and 13.7. During observation period of 5.1 ± 1.0 years, 59 renal outcomes and 9 CVD events were observed. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis free from renal outcomes revealed better tendency in IS low group (p= 0.0617 in log-rank test). According to IS levels adjusted by eGFR, only 1 out of 9 CVD events occurred in low IS/eGFR tertile group.
Conclusion
Serum IS levels could be measured in new enzymatic method. Strong correlation between IS and eGFR was demonstrated, and AST-120 might be effective to improve IS. In renal and CVD outcome analysis, more sample size is needed for further study.
CD34.sup.+ cells maintain vascular homeostasis and predict cardiovascular outcomes. We previously evaluated the association of CD34.sup.+ cells with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events over 23 ...months, but long-term CVD outcomes in relation to levels of CD34.sup.+ cells in patients on maintenance hemodialysis are unclear. Herein, we analyzed the long-term predictive potential levels of CD34.sup.+ cells for CVD outcomes and all-cause mortality. Between March 2005 and May 2005, we enrolled 215 patients on maintenance hemodialysis at Nagoya Kyoritsu Hospital and followed them up to 12.8 years. According to the CD34.sup.+ cell counts, patients were classified into the lowest, medium, and highest tertiles. Levels of CD34.sup.+ cells were analyzed in association with four-point major adverse CV events (MACEs), CVD death, and all-cause mortality. In univariate analysis age, smoking habit, lower geriatric nutrition risk index, lower calcium x phosphate product, and lower intact parathyroid hormone were significantly associated with the lowest tertile. Whereas, in multivariate analysis, age and smoking habit were significantly associated with the lowest tertile. Among 139 (64.7%) patients who died during a mean follow-up period of 8.0 years, 39 (28.1%) patients died from CVD. Patients in the lowest tertile had a significantly lower survival rate than those in the medium and highest tertiles (p less than or equal to 0.001). Using multivariable analyses, the lowest tertile was significantly associated with four-point MACEs (hazard ratio 1.80, p = 0.023) and CVD death (hazard ratio 2.50, p = 0.011). In conclusion, our long-term observational study revealed that a low level of CD34.sup.+ cells in the circulation predicts CVD outcomes among patients on maintenance hemodialysis.
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