Alteration in immune complex glomerulonephritis by arachidonic acid

Eicosanoids: role in experimental renal disease

Because of their vasodilator and vasoconstrictor properties, vasoactive prostaglandins and thromboxane A2 have been proposed as modulators of the hemodynamic changes that occur in experimental models of renal disease. Increased synthesis of vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGE2) and perhaps prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) play a role in the maintenance of renal blood flow and GFR during states of impaired perfusion. In contrast, thromboxane A2 has been implicated as the vasoconstrictor responsible for the reduction of renal blood flow and GFR in certain animal models of experimental renal disease. These products and other metabolites of arachidonic acid may also participate in the immunological events underlying the onset and/or progression of experimental renal disease. It is evident that the pathophysiologic role of eicosanoids in experimental renal disease is not fully understood. Additional studies and further understanding of the many other potential roles of eicosanoids on immunological events, hemodynamic states, mesangial cell physiology, etc. are needed to comprehend more fully the extent of the participation of eicosanoids in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of renal disease.

[The significance of eicosanoids in glomerular diseases]

Prostanoids are local cyclooxygenase products, synthesized by mesangial and epithelial cells of the glomerulus as well as by a variety of inflammatory cells and platelets. Prostaglandins and thromboxane have direct vasodilatory and vasoconstrictory effects and can modulate glomerular function. Arachidonic acid, the main substrate for cyclooxygenase, can also be metabolized by the lipoxygenase pathway to leukotrienes, substances which are primarily synthesized in inflammatory cells. In several models induction of immunologic glomerular injury is associated with an increased glomerular formation of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products. The changes in cyclooxygenase products have been shown to account for some hemodynamic changes found in some of these models. Increased renal prostanoid formation is also present in patients with glomerular disease. There is some evidence that increased renal PG-formation in patients with moderate glomerular disease regulates GFR and mediates proteinurie in some of these patients. Leukotrienes are chemotactive substances which modulate the function of inflammatory cells, stimulate the growth of mesangial cells, and constrict mesangial cells in culture. Thus, these compounds might be mediators in the induction of immune mediated glomerular disease.

Protective effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation in apoferritin induced murine glomerulonephritis

The effects of increasing two dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic and linoleic, on the glomerulonephritis induced by repeated injections of apoferritin in the mouse were studied. Urinary protein excretion was measured serially; serum creatinine, aortic and renal production of eicosanoids and kidney histology were measured at sacrifice at 8 weeks. Both high EPA and LA feedings were associated with lesser proteinuria, normalization of renal function and profound changes in the tissue production of prostaglandin and thromboxane, which may explain their protective effect in this model of renal disease.