Glomerular haemodynamics, the renal sympathetic nervous system and sepsis-induced acute kidney injury

Activating soluble guanylyl cyclase attenuates ischemic kidney damage

Can direct activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) provide kidney-protection? To answer this, we tested the kidney-protective effects of a sGC activator, which functions independent of nitric oxide and with oxidized sGC, in an acute kidney injury (AKI) model with transition to chronic kidney disease (CKD). We hypothesize this treatment would provide protection of kidney microvasculature, kidney blood flow, fibrosis, inflammation, and kidney damage. Assessment took place on days three, seven, 14 (acute phase) and 84 (late phase) after unilateral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) in rats. Post-ischemia, animals received vehicle or the sGC activator BAY 60-2770 orally. In the vehicle group, medullary microvessels narrowed and cortical microvessels showed hypertrophic inward remodeling. The mRNA levels of acute injury markers (Kim-1, Ngal) were high in the acute phase but declined in the late phase. Kidney weight decreased after the acute phase, while fibrosis started after day seven. Abundance of fibrotic (Col1a, Tgf-β1) and inflammatory markers (Il-6, Tnf-α) remained elevated throughout, along with mononuclear cell invasion, with elevated plasma cystatin C and creatinine. BAY 60-2770 treatment increased tissue cGMP concentration, dilated kidney microvasculature, and enhanced blood flow and oxygenation. This intervention significantly attenuated kidney weight loss, cell damage, fibrosis, and inflammation. Plasma cystatin C and creatinine improved significantly with sGC activator treatment indicating functional recovery, though possible GFR increase above kidney reserve in uninjured kidneys could not be excluded. In cultured human tubular cells (HK-2 cells) exposed to hypoxia or profibrotic TGF-β, BAY 60-2770 improved abundance patterns of pathologically relevant genes. Overall, our results show that sGC activation may provide effective kidney-protection and attenuate the AKI-to-CKD transition.

Neng-Jing-Huo Essential Oil Blend Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation, Inflammation, and Apoptosis in Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

ABSTRACT

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common serious complication of sepsis that is characterized by the rapid deterioration of kidney function. Neng-Jing-Huo (NJH) is an essential oil blend, including Gaultheria procumbens, Zingiber officinale, Bulnesia sarmientoi, Artemisia vulgaris , and Styrax benzoin oils, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we investigated the effects of NJH on oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in an in vitro septic AKI model and explored the underlying mechanisms. A cellular model of septic AKI was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cell viability was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Action mechanisms of NJH were analyzed using the Griess reagent, 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, 5,5',6,6' tetrachloro-1,1'3,3' tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide, annexin V, caspase activity, western blotting, and semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. Results showed that pretreatment with NJH significantly improved cell survival and suppressed nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-stimulated NRK-52E renal tubular epithelial cells. NJH also decreased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential by upregulating the nuclear factor (NF) erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 levels and downregulating the NADPH oxidase 4 levels. In addition, NJH suppressed the activation of the toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB and NLRP3/caspase-1 pathways, thereby decreasing the inflammatory response in LPS-stimulated NRK-52E cells. Moreover, NJH decreased the levels of Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 but increased those of Bcl-2, which led to a reduction in LPS-induced apoptosis. Overall, our findings revealed that NJH ameliorated LPS-induced damage in NRK-52E cells by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, highlighting its therapeutic potential for septic AKI.

Urine miR-340-5p Predicts the Adverse Prognosis of Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury and Regulates Renal Tubular Epithelial Cell Injury by Targeting KDM4C

INTRODUCTION

Sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) is a common complication of sepsis. miR-340-5p has been identified as an effective biomarker of various human diseases. As the downstream target, the involvement of lysine (K)-specific demethylase 4C (KDM4C) in SA-AKI would help interpret the regulatory mechanism of miR-340-5p. The significance of miR-340-5p in the onset and progression of SA-AKI was evaluated to provide a potential therapeutic target for SA-AKI.

METHODS

This study enrolled 64 healthy individuals (control) and 159 sepsis patients (92 SA-AKI and 67 non-AKI) and collected urine samples. The urine level of miR-340-5p was analyzed by PCR, and a series of statistical analyses were conducted to assess the clinical significance of miR-340-5p in the occurrence and development of SA-AKI. The injured renal tubular epithelial cells were established with LPS induction. The roles of miR-340-5p in cellular processes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Increasing urine miR-340-5p discriminated SA-AKI patients from healthy individuals (AUC = 0.934) and non-AKI sepsis patients (AUC = 0.806) sensitively. Additionally, elevated miR-340-5p could predict the adverse prognosis (HR = 5.128, 95% CI = 1.259-20.892) and malignant development of SA-AKI patients. In vitro, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) also induced an increased level of miR-340-5p and significant cell injury in the renal tubular epithelial cell; silencing miR-340-5p could alleviate the suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion caused by LPS. In mechanism, miR-340-5p negatively regulated KDM4C, which mediated the function of miR-340-5p.

CONCLUSION

miR-340-5p served as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of SA-AKI and regulated renal tubular epithelial cell injury via modulating KDM4C.

Quinacrine, a PLA2 inhibitor, alleviates LPS-induced acute kidney injury in rats: Involvement of TLR4/NF-κB/TNF α-mediated signaling

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a major factor in sepsis-related mortality and may occur due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an endotoxin produced by gram-negative bacteria that triggers a systemic acute inflammatory response. Quinacrine's (QC) renoprotective properties in sepsis and the underlying mechanism, however, are still not fully understood. This study was done to investigate the anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-apoptotic effects of QC, a phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitor, against LPS-induced AKI. Rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, QC30 group, LPS group, LPS+QC 10 group, and LPS+QC 30 group. The rats were administered intraperitoneally QC (10 and 30 mg/kg) for 3 days (once a day) prior to injection of LPS (3 mg/kg). Six hours after the LPS injection, the histopathological changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in the collected kidney tissues were detected by hematoxylin and eosin staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time PCR (RT-PCR), and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively. QC pretreatment could successfully attenuate LPS-induced AKI, as evidenced by a decrease in tissue histopathological injury. Meanwhile, QC alleviated LPS-induced kidney oxidative stress; it reduced MDA levels and increased levels of SOD, CAT, GPX, and GSH. LPS-induced elevations in kidney TLR4, NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PLA2, caspase 3, and Bax contents were significantly attenuated in QC-treated groups. Our findings revealed a significant effect of QC: protecting against LPS-induced AKI through inhibition of PLA2 and decreasing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. To treat LPS-induced AKI, QC may be an effective substance with an excellent protection profile.

Acute Kidney Injury: Definition, Management, and Promising Therapeutic Target

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is caused by a sudden loss of renal function, resulting in the build-up of waste products and a significant increase in mortality and morbidity. It is commonly diagnosed in critically ill patients, with its occurrence estimated at up to 50% in patients hospitalized in the intensive critical unit. Despite ongoing efforts, the death rate associated with AKI has remained high over the past half-century. Thus, it is critical to investigate novel therapy options for preventing the epidemic. Many studies have found that inflammation and Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) activation have a significant role in the pathogenesis of AKI. Noteworthy, challenges in the search for efficient pharmacological therapy for AKI have arisen due to the multifaceted origin and complexity of the clinical history of people with the disease. This article focuses on kidney injury's epidemiology, risk factors, and pathophysiological processes. Specifically, it focuses on the role of TLRs especially type 4 in disease development.

Exploring an Unknown Corner of a Well-Known Topic: HIIE Influence on Renal Health and Filtration in Healthy Individuals Free of Cardiometabolic Diseases

Aerobic exercise, specifically high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE), and its effects on renal health and filtration (RHF) are not well understood. Several studies support incorporating contemporary biomarkers serum cystatin C (CyC) and urine epidermal growth factor (uEGF) to combat the volatility of serum creatinine (sCr). Using these biomarkers, we examined the acute influences HIIE has on RHF to determine if there is a ceiling effect in healthy populations. The purpose was to determine the influence of an acute bout of HIIE on RHF. Thirty-six participants (n = 22 males; n = 14 females; age 37.6 ± 12.4 years.; BF% 19.2 ± 7.1%; VO2max 41.8 + 7.4 mL/kg/min) completed 30 min of HIIE on a treadmill (80% and 40% of VO2reserve in 3:2 min ratio). Blood and urine samples were obtained under standardized conditions before, 1 h, and 24 h post-exercise. CyC, sCR, uEGF, urine creatinine (uCr), uCr/uEGF ratio, and multiple estimates of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and CKD-EPI equations were used. The analysis employed paired sample t-tests and repeated measures ANOVAs. CyC, uEGF, uCr, and uCr/uEGF ratio concentrations were not altered between timepoints. sCr increased 1 h post-exercise (p > 0.002) but not at 24 h post-exercise. eGFR decreased in the MDRD and CKD-EPI equations at 1 h (p > 0.012) with no changes at 24 h post-exercise. CyC and sCr/CyC demonstrated no significant changes. CyC and uEGF are not altered by acute HIIE. The results demonstrate a potential ceiling effect in contemporary and traditional biomarkers of RHF, indicating improvements in RHF may be isolated to populations with reduced kidney function.

Critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: clinical determinants and post-mortem histology

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the intensive care unit (ICU) portends a poor prognosis. We aimed to better characterize predictors of survival and the mechanism of kidney failure in these patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study using clinical and radiological electronic health records, analysed by univariable and multivariable binary logistic regression. Histopathological examination of post-mortem renal tissue was performed.

Results

Among 157 patients with AKI requiring RRT, higher serum creatinine at RRT initiation associated with increased ICU survival [odds ratio (OR) 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.62, P = .001]; however, muscle mass (a marker of frailty) interacted with creatinine (P = .02) and superseded creatinine as a predictor of survival (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.08-0.82; P = .02). Achieving lower cumulative fluid balance (mL/kg) predicted ICU survival (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P < .001), as supported by sensitivity analyses showing improved ICU survival with the use of furosemide (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.18-0.87, P = .02) and increasing net ultrafiltration (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.99, P = .02). A urine output of >500 mL/24 h strongly predicted successful liberation from RRT (OR 0.125, 95% CI 0.05-0.35, P < .001). Post-mortem reports were available for 32 patients; clinically unrecognized renal findings were described in 6 patients, 1 of whom had interstitial nephritis. Experimental staining of renal tissue from patients with sepsis-associated AKI (S-AKI) showed glomerular loss of synaptopodin (P = .02).

Conclusions

Confounding of creatinine by muscle mass undermines its use as a marker of AKI severity in clinical studies. Volume management and urine output are key determinants of outcome. Loss of synaptopodin implicates glomerular injury in the pathogenesis of S-AKI.

Long-Term Effects of Severe Burns on the Kidneys: Research Advances and Potential Therapeutic Approaches

Burns are a seriously underestimated form of trauma that not only damage the skin system but also cause various complications, such as acute kidney injury (AKI). Recent clinical studies have shown that the proportion of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) in burn patients after discharge is significantly higher than that in the general population, but the mechanism behind this is controversial. The traditional view is that CKD is associated with hypoperfusion, AKI, sepsis, and drugs administered in the early stages of burns. However, recent studies have shown that burns can cause long-term immune dysfunction, which is a high-risk factor for CKD. This suggests that burns affect the kidneys more than previously recognized. In other words, severe burns are not only an acute injury but also a chronic disease. Neglecting to study long-term kidney function in burn patients also results in a lack of preventive and therapeutic methods being developed. Furthermore, stem cells and their exosomes have shown excellent comprehensive therapeutic properties in the prevention and treatment of CKD, making them increasingly the focus of research attention. Their engineering strategy further improved the therapeutic performance. This review will focus on the research advances in burns on the development of CKD, illustrating the possible mechanism of burn-induced CKD and introducing potential biological treatment options and their engineering strategies.

Pneumoperitoneum and Acute Kidney Injury-An Integrative Clinical Concept Review

An increased intraabdominal pressure, particularly when occurring during periods of hemodynamic instability or fluid overload, is regarded as a major contributor to acute kidney injury (AKI) in intensive care units. During abdominal laparoscopic procedures, intraoperative insufflation pressures up to 15 mmHg are applied, to enable visualization and surgical manipulation but with the potential to compromise net renal perfusion. Despite the widely acknowledged renal arterial autoregulation, net arterial perfusion pressure is known to be narrow, and the effective renal medullary perfusion is disproportionately impacted by venous and lymphatic congestion. At present, the potential risk factors, mitigators and risk-stratification of AKI during surgical pneumoperitoneum formation received relatively limited attention among nephrologists and represent an opportunity to look beyond mere blood pressure and intake-output balances. Careful charting and reporting duration and extent of surgical pneumoperitoneum represents an opportunity for anesthesia teams to better communicate intraoperative factors affecting renal outcomes for the postoperative clinical teams. In this current article, the authors are integrating preclinical data and clinical experience to provide a better understanding to optimize renal perfusion during surgeries. Future studies should carefully consider intrabdominal insufflation pressure as a key variable when assessing outcomes and blood pressure goals in these settings.

Urine biochemistry assessment in the sequential evaluation of renal function: Time to think outside the box

Urine biochemistry (UB) remains a controversial tool in acute kidney injury (AKI) monitoring, being considered to be of limited value both in terms of AKI diagnosis and prognosis. However, many criticisms can be made to the studies that have established the so called “pre-renal paradigm” (used for decades as the essential physiological basis for UB assessment in AKI) as well as to more recent studies suggesting that UB has no utility in daily clinical practice. The aim of this article is to describe our hypothesis on how to interpret simple and widely recognized urine biochemical parameters from a novel perspective, propose the rationale for their sequential assessment and demonstrate their usefulness in AKI monitoring, especially in the critical care setting.

Mediators of Regional Kidney Perfusion during Surgical Pneumo-Peritoneum Creation and the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury—A Review of Basic Physiology

Acute kidney injury (AKI), especially if recurring, represents a risk factor for future chronic kidney disease. In intensive care units, increased intra-abdominal pressure is well-recognized as a significant contributor to AKI. However, the importance of transiently increased intra-abdominal pressures procedures is less commonly appreciated during laparoscopic surgery, the use of which has rapidly increased over the last few decades. Unlike the well-known autoregulation of the renal cortical circulation, medulla perfusion is modulated via partially independent regulatory mechanisms and strongly impacted by changes in venous and lymphatic pressures. In our review paper, we will provide a comprehensive overview of this evolving topic, covering a broad range from basic pathophysiology up to and including current clinical relevance and examples. Key regulators of oxidative stress such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, the activation of inflammatory response and humoral changes interacting with procedural pneumo-peritoneum formation and AKI risk will be recounted. Moreover, we present an in-depth review of the interaction of pneumo-peritoneum formation with general anesthetic agents and animal models of congestive heart failure. A better understanding of the relationship between pneumo-peritoneum formation and renal perfusion will support basic and clinical research, leading to improved clinical care and collaboration among specialists.

Sepsis Management for the Nephrologist

The definition of sepsis has evolved significantly over the past three decades. Today, sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host immune response to microbial invasion leading to end organ dysfunction. Septic shock is characterized by hypotension requiring vasopressors after adequate fluid resuscitation with elevated lactate. Early recognition and intervention remain hallmarks for sepsis management. We addressed the current literature and assimilated thought regarding optimum initial resuscitation of the patient with sepsis. A nuanced understanding of the physiology of lactate is provided in our review. Physiologic and practical knowledge of steroid and vasopressor therapy for sepsis is crucial and addressed. As blood purification may interest the nephrologist treating sepsis, we have also added a brief discussion of its status.

Calcium dobesilate alleviates renal dysfunction and inflammation by targeting nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication of sepsis that increases mortality and the risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. Oxidative stress and apoptosis are reported to exert critical function in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated AKI. Calcium dobesilate (CaD) was reported to play a protective role in renal diseases. Therefore, we explored the antioxidant effect and potential mechanism of CaD in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced AKI in mice. We evaluated renal function (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr)), histopathology, oxidative stress (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)), inflammation cytokines, and apoptosis in kidneys of mice. The effect of CaD on NF-κB signaling was evaluated by Western blot. Our findings showed that CaD alleviated renal dysfunction and kidney injury, and also reversed upregulated MDA concentration and reduced SOD enzyme activity in AKI mice. Moreover, LPS-induced inflammatory response was attenuated by CaD. CaD treatment also reduced the apoptosis evoked by LPS. Additionally, CaD downregulated phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling components in LPS mice. Conclusively, CaD alleviates renal dysfunction and inflammation by targeting NF-κB signaling in sepsis-associated AKI.

Dynamics of GRK2 in the kidney: a putative mechanism for sepsis-associated kidney injury

Renal vascular reactivity to vasoconstrictors is preserved in sepsis in opposition to what happens in the systemic circulation. We studied whether this distinct behavior was related to α1 adrenergic receptor density, G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) and the putative role of nitric oxide (NO). Sepsis was induced in female mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Wildtype mice were treated with prazosin 12 h after CLP or nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS-2) inhibitor, 30 min before and 6 and 12 h after CLP. In vivo experiments and biochemistry assays were performed 24 h after CLP. Sepsis decreased the systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the vascular reactivity to phenylephrine. Sepsis also reduced basal renal blood flow which was normalized by treatment with prazosin. Sepsis led to a substantial decrease in GRK2 level associated with an increase in α1 adrenergic receptor density in the kidney. The disappearance of renal GRK2 was prevented in NOS-2-KO mice or mice treated with 1400 W. Treatment of non-septic mice with an NO donor reduced GRK2 content in the kidney. Therefore, our results show that an NO-dependent reduction in GRK2 level in the kidney leads to the maintenance of a normal α1 adrenergic receptor density. The preservation of the density and/or functionality of this receptor in the kidney together with a higher vasoconstrictor tonus in sepsis lead to vasoconstriction. Thus, the increased concentration of vasoconstrictor mediators together with the preservation (and even increase) of the response to them may help to explain sepsis-induced acute kidney injury.

New strategies to optimize renal haemodynamics

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review discusses the macrocirculatory and microcirculatory aspects of renal perfusion, as well as novel methods by which to measure renal blood flow. Finally, therapeutic options are briefly discussed, including renal-specific microcirculatory effects.

RECENT FINDINGS

The optimal mean arterial pressure (MAP) needed for preservation of renal function has been debated but is most likely a MAP of 60-80 mmHg. In addition, attention should be paid to renal outflow pressure, typically central venous pressure. Heterogeneity in microcirculation can exist and may be mitigated through appropriate use of vasopressors with unique microcirculatory effects. Excessive catecholamines have been shown to be harmful and should be avoided. Both angiotensin II and vasopressin may improve glomerular flow through a number of mechanisms. Macrocirculatory and microcirculatory blood flow can be measured through a number of bedside ultrasound modalities, sublingual microscopy and urinary oxygen measurement, SUMMARY: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common manifestation of organ failure in shock, and avoidance of hemodynamic instability can mitigate this risk. Measurement of renal haemodynamics is not routinely performed but may help to guide therapeutic goals. A thorough understanding of pathophysiology, measurement techniques and therapeutic options may allow for a personalized approach to blood pressure management in patients with septic shock and may ultimately mitigate AKI.

Reduced urinary levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activity predict acute kidney injury in critically ill patients

Objective: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 activity reflects non-classical renin-angiotensin system upregulation. We assessed the association of urinary angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (uACE2) activity with acute kidney injury (AKI). Design, setting and participants: A prospective observational study in which we measured uACE2 activity in 105 critically ill patients at risk of AKI. We report AKI stage 2 or 3 at 12 hours of urine collection (AKI12h) and AKI stage 2 or 3 at any time during intensive care unit stay in patients free from any stage of AKI at inclusion (AKIICU). AKI prediction was assessed using area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUROC) and net reclassification indices (NRIs). Main outcome measure: AKI stage 2 or 3 at 12 hours of urine collection. Results: Within 12 hours of inclusion, 32 of 105 patients (30%) had developed AKI12h. Corrected uACE2 activity was significantly higher in patients without AKI12h compared with those with AKI12h (median [interquartile range], 13 [6-24] v 7 [4-10] pmol/min/mL per mmol/L of urine creatinine; P < 0.01). A 10-unit increase in uACE2 was associated with a 28% decrease in AKI12h risk (odds ratio [95% CI], 0.72 [0.46-0.97]). During intensive care unit admission, 39 of 76 patients (51%) developed AKIICU. uACE2 had an AUROC for the prediction of AKI12h of 0.68 (95% CI, 0.57-0.79), and correctly reclassified 28% of patients (positive NRI) to AKI12h. Patients with uACE2 > 8.7 pmol/min/mL per mmol/L of urine creatinine had a significantly lower risk of AKIICU on log-rank analysis (52% v 84%; P < 0.01). Conclusions: Higher uACE2 activity was associated with a decreased risk of AKI stage 2 or 3. Our findings support future evaluations of the role of the non-classical renin-angiotensin system during AKI.

Dexmedetomidine Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury by Inhibiting p75NTR-Mediated Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis

Oxidative stress and apoptosis play a key role in the pathogenesis of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). Dexmedetomidine (DEX) may present renal protective effects in sepsis. Therefore, we studied antioxidant effects and the mechanism of DEX in an inflammatory proximal tubular epithelial cell model and lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced AKI in mice. Methods. We assessed renal function (creatinine, urea nitrogen), histopathology, oxidative stress (malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), and apoptosis (TUNEL staining and Cleaved caspase-3) in mice. In vitro experiments including Cleaved caspase-3 and p75NTR/p38MAPK/JNK signaling pathways were evaluated using western blot. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) production and apoptosis were determined using flow cytometry. Results. DEX significantly improved renal function and kidney injury and also revert the substantially increased level of MDA concentrations as well as the reduction of the SOD enzyme activity found in LPS-induced AKI mice. In parallel, DEX treatment also reduced the apoptosis and Cleaved caspase-3 expression evoked by LPS. The expression of p75NTR was increased in kidney tissues of mice with AKI but decreased after treatment with DEX. In cultured human renal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2 cells), DEX inhibited LPS-induced apoptosis and generation of ROS, but this was reversed by overexpression of p75NTR. Furthermore, pretreatment with DEX significantly downregulated phosphorylation of JNK and p38MAPK in LPS-stimulated HK-2 cells, and this effect was abolished by overexpression of p75NTR. Conclusion. DEX ameliorated AKI in mice with sepsis by partially reducing oxidative stress and apoptosis through regulation of p75NTR/p38MAPK/JNK signaling pathways.

Plasma Renin Concentration is Associated With Hemodynamic Deficiency and Adverse Renal Outcome in Septic Shock

BACKGROUND

In septic shock, both systemic vasodilatation and glomerular arteriole dilatation are responsible for the drop in glomerular filtration observed in early acute kidney injury. Angiotensin II has been shown to act on both mechanisms. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of renin angiotensin system activation, on hemodynamic deficiency and renal outcome in patient with septic shock and to assess whether urinary sodium could be a reliable test for high plasma renin concentration screening.

METHODS

This was a prospective and observational study. Inclusion criteria were early septic shock (first episode), dose of norepinephrine ≥ 0.25 μg/kg/min, before the start of substitutive corticosteroids. Plasma renin concentration, plasma aldosterone concentration, and urinary sodium were measured at inclusion. Renal outcome, organ deficiency, and 28-day survival were followed.

RESULTS

Plasma renin concentration was associated with worse hemodynamic deficiency and adverse renal outcome. Natriuresis was associated with shock severity but was not associated with renal outcome. Low natriuresis (< 20 mM) was associated with higher renin concentration. Those two variables were only weakly correlated.

CONCLUSION

Plasma renin concentration is associated with adverse renal outcome, probably through shock severity and insufficient glomerular efferent arterioles vasoconstriction. An association was observed between low natriuresis and high plasma renin concentration.

Vasopressor Therapy and Blood Pressure Management in the Setting of Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the setting of shock. Hemodynamic instability is a risk factor for the development of AKI, and pathophysiological mechanisms include loss of renal perfusion pressure and impaired microcirculation. Although restoration of mean arterial pressure (MAP) may mitigate the risk of AKI to some extent, evidence on this is conflicting. Also debatable is the optimal blood pressure needed to minimize the risk of kidney injury. A MAP of 65 mm Hg traditionally has been considered adequate to maintain renal perfusion pressure, and studies have failed to consistently show improved outcomes at higher levels of MAP. Therapeutic options to support renal perfusion consist of catecholamines, vasopressin, and angiotensin II. Although catecholamines are the most studied, they are associated with adverse events at higher doses, including AKI. Vasopressin and angiotensin II are noncatecholamine options to support blood pressure and may improve microcirculatory hemodynamics through unique mechanisms, including differential vasoconstriction of efferent and afferent arterioles within the nephron. Future areas of study include methods by which clinicians can measure renal blood flow in a macrocirculatory and microcirculatory way, a personalized approach to blood pressure management in septic shock using patient-specific measures of perfusion adequacy, and novel agents that may improve the microcirculation within the kidneys without causing adverse microcirculatory effects in other organs.

The sympathetic nervous system in acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequently accompanied by activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This may result from pre-exisiting chronic diseases associated with sympathetic activation prior to AKI or it may be induced by stressors that ultimately lead to AKI such as endotoxins and arterial hypotension in circulatory shock. Conversely, sympathetic activation may also result from acute renal injury. Focusing on studies in experimental renal ischaemia and reperfusion (IR), this review summarizes the current knowledge on how the SNS is activated in IR-induced AKI and on the consequences of sympathetic activation for the development of acute renal damage. Experimental studies show beneficial effects of sympathoinhibitory interventions on renal structure and function in response to IR. However, few clinical trials obtained in scenarios that correspond to experimental IR, namely major elective surgery, showed that peri-operative treatment with centrally acting sympatholytics reduced the incidence of AKI. Apparently, discrepant findings on how sympathetic activation influences renal responses to acute IR-induced injury are discussed and future areas of research in this field are identified.

AKI and the Neuroimmune Axis

Neuroimmune interaction is an emerging concept, wherein the nervous system modulates the immune system and vice versa. This concept is gaining attention as a novel therapeutic target in various inflammatory diseases including acute kidney injury (AKI). Vagus nerve stimulation or treatment with pulsed ultrasound activates the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway to prevent AKI in mice. The kidneys are innervated by sympathetic efferent and sensory afferent neurons, and these neurons also may play a role in the modulation of inflammation in AKI. In this review, we discuss several neural circuits with respect to the control of renal inflammation and AKI as well as optogenetics as a novel tool for understanding these complex neural circuits.

Urine electrolyte measurement as a "window" into renal microcirculatory stress assessment in critically ill patients

Urine electrolyte assessment has long been used in order to understand electrolyte concentration disturbances in blood and as an easy tool for monitoring renal perfusion and structural tubular damage. In the last few years, great improvement in the pathophysiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) has occurred, and the correlation between urine biochemistry (UB) behavior and renal perfusion was frequently questioned. Many authors have suggested abandoning UB monitoring due to its unclear role in AKI monitoring. Our group has been working in this field in the critically ill population, and we believe that, although UB is indeed very useful, a different point of view regarding the interpretation of the data should be used. The aim of this review is to explain the rationale of these new concepts and make suggestions for their adequate use in daily ICU practice, especially in low-income countries where more sophisticated and expensive AKI biomarker assessments are not available.

Fluid accumulation during acute kidney injury in the intensive care unit

INTRODUCTION

Fluid therapy is a ubiquitous intervention in patients admitted to the intensive care unit, but positive fluid balance may be associated with poor outcomes and particular in patients with acute kidney injury. Studies describing this have defined fluid overload either at specific time points or considered patients with a positive mean daily fluid balance as fluid overloaded. We wished to detail this further and performed joint model analyses of the association between daily fluid balance and outcome represented by mortality and renal recovery in patients admitted with acute kidney injury.

METHOD

We did a retrospective cohort study of patients admitted to the intensive care unit with acute kidney injury during a 2-year observation period. We used serum creatinine measurements to identify patients with acute kidney injury and collected sequential daily fluid balance during the first 5 days of admission to the intensive care unit. We used joint modelling techniques to correlate the development of fluid overload with survival and renal recovery adjusted for age, gender and disease severity.

RESULTS

The cohort contained 863 patients with acute kidney injury of whom 460 (53%) and 254 (29%) developed 5% and 10% fluid overload, respectively. We found that both 5% and 10% fluid overload was correlated with reduced survival and renal recovery.

CONCLUSION

Joint model analyses of fluid accumulation in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with acute kidney injury confirm that even a modest degree of fluid overload (5%) may be negatively associated with both survival and renal recovery.

Renal haemodynamics and oxygenation during and after cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication following cardiac surgery performed on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and has important implications for prognosis. The aetiology of cardiac surgery-associated AKI is complex, but renal hypoxia, particularly in the medulla, is thought to play at least some role. There is strong evidence from studies in experimental animals, clinical observations and computational models that medullary ischaemia and hypoxia occur during CPB. There are no validated methods to monitor or improve renal oxygenation during CPB, and thus possibly decrease the risk of AKI. Attempts to reduce the incidence of AKI by early transfusion to ameliorate intra-operative anaemia, refinement of protocols for cooling and rewarming on bypass, optimization of pump flow and arterial pressure, or the use of pulsatile flow, have not been successful to date. This may in part reflect the complexity of renal oxygenation, which may limit the effectiveness of individual interventions. We propose a multi-disciplinary pathway for translation comprising three components. Firstly, large-animal models of CPB to continuously monitor both whole kidney and regional kidney perfusion and oxygenation. Secondly, computational models to obtain information that can be used to interpret the data and develop rational interventions. Thirdly, clinically feasible non-invasive methods to continuously monitor renal oxygenation in the operating theatre and to identify patients at risk of AKI. In this review, we outline the recent progress on each of these fronts.

Determinants of Urinary Output Response to IV Furosemide in Acute Kidney Injury: A Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Study

OBJECTIVES

This study assessed the determinants of urinary output response to furosemide in acute kidney injury; specifically, whether the response is related to altered pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort.

SETTING

Tertiary ICU.

PATIENTS

Thirty critically ill patients with acute kidney injury without preexisting renal impairment or recent diuretic exposure.

INTERVENTION

A single dose of IV furosemide.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Baseline markers of intravascular volume status were obtained prior to administering furosemide. Six-hour creatinine clearance, hourly plasma/urinary furosemide concentrations, and hourly urinary output were used to assess furosemide pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics parameters. Of 30 patients enrolled, 11 had stage-1 (37%), nine had stage-2 (30%), and 10 had stage-3 (33%) Acute Kidney Injury Network acute kidney injury. Seventy-three percent were septic, 47% required norepinephrine, and 53% were mechanically ventilated. Urinary output doubled in 20 patients (67%) following IV furosemide. Measured creatinine clearance was strongly associated with the amount of urinary furosemide excreted and was the only reliable predictor of the urinary output after furosemide (area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57-0.93). In addition to an altered pharmacokinetics (p < 0.01), a reduced pharmacodynamics response to furosemide also became important when creatinine clearance was reduced to less than 40 mL/min/1.73 m (p = 0.01). Acute kidney injury staging and markers of intravascular volume, including central venous pressure, brain-natriuretic-peptide concentration, and fractional urinary sodium excretion were not predictive of urinary output response to furosemide.

CONCLUSIONS

The severity of acute kidney injury, as reflected by the measured creatinine clearance, alters both pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of furosemide in acute kidney injury, and was the only reliable predictor of the urinary output response to furosemide in acute kidney injury.

Urine biochemistry assessment in critically ill patients: controversies and future perspectives

In the past, urine biochemistry was a major tool in acute kidney injury (AKI) management. Classic papers published some decades ago established the values of the urine indices which were thought to distinguish "pre-renal" (functional) AKI attributed to low renal perfusion and "renal" (structural) AKI attributed to acute tubular necrosis (ATN). However, there were a lot of drawbacks and limitations in these studies and some recent articles have questioned the utility of measuring urine electrolytes especially because they do not seem to adequately inform about renal perfusion nor AKI duration (transient vs. persistent). At the same time, the "pre-renal" paradigm has been consistently criticized because hypoperfusion followed by ischemia and ATN does not seem to explain most of the AKI developing in critically ill patients and distinct AKI durations do not seem to be clearly related to different pathophysiological mechanisms or histopathological findings. In this new context, other possible roles for urine biochemistry have emerged. Some studies have suggested standardized changes in the urine electrolyte composition preceding increases in serum creatinine independently of AKI subsequent duration, which might actually be due to intra-renal microcirculatory changes and activation of sodium-retaining mechanisms even in the absence of impaired global renal blood flow. In the present review, the points of controversy regarding urine biochemistry assessment were evaluated as well as future perspectives for its role in AKI monitoring. An alternative approach for the interpretation of measured urine electrolytes is proposed which needs further larger studies to be validated and incorporated in daily ICU practice.

Endothelin and tubulointerstitial renal disease

All components of the endothelin (ET) system are present in renal tubular cells. In this review, we summarize current knowledge about ET and the most common tubular diseases: acute kidney injury (AKI) and polycystic kidney disease. AKI originally was called acute tubular necrosis, pointing to the most prominent morphologic findings. Similarly, cysts in polycystic kidney disease, and especially in autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, are of tubular origin. Preclinical studies have indicated that the ET system and particularly ETA receptors are involved in the pathogenesis of ischemia-reperfusion injury, although these findings have not been translated to clinical studies. The ET system also has been implicated in radiocontrast-dye-induced AKI, however, ET-receptor blockade in a large human study was not successful. The ET system is activated in sepsis models of AKI; the effectiveness of ET blocking agents in preclinical studies is variable depending on the model and the ET-receptor antagonist used. Numerous studies have shown that the ET system plays an important role in the complex pathophysiology associated with cyst formation and disease progression in polycystic kidney disease. However, results from selective targeting of ET-receptor subtypes in animal models of polycystic kidney disease have proved disappointing and do not support clinical trials. These studies have shown that a critical balance between ETA and ETB receptor action is necessary to maintain structure and function in the cystic kidney. In summary, ETs have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several renal tubulointerstitial diseases, however, experimental animal findings have not yet led to use of ET blockers in human beings.

Pharmacological models and approaches for pathophysiological conditions associated with hypoxia and oxidative stress

Hypoxia is the failure of oxygenation at the tissue level, where the reduced oxygen delivered is not enough to satisfy tissue demands. Metabolic depression is the physiological adaptation associated with reduced oxygen consumption, which evidently does not cause any harm to organs that are exposed to acute and short hypoxic insults. Oxidative stress (OS) refers to the imbalance between the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the ability of endogenous antioxidant systems to scavenge ROS, where ROS overwhelms the antioxidant capacity. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of diseases related to hypoxia during intrauterine development and postnatal life. Thus, excessive ROS are implicated in the irreversible damage to cell membranes, DNA, and other cellular structures by oxidizing lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Here, we describe several pathophysiological conditions and in vivo and ex vivo models developed for the study of hypoxic and oxidative stress injury. We reviewed existing literature on the responses to hypoxia and oxidative stress of the cardiovascular, renal, reproductive, and central nervous systems, and discussed paradigms of chronic and intermittent hypobaric hypoxia. This systematic review is a critical analysis of the advantages in the application of some experimental strategies and their contributions leading to novel pharmacological therapies.

Sepsis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious yet potentially reversible complication of sepsis. Several molecular mechanisms involved in the development of septic AKI have been identified. These mechanisms may be important targets in the development of future therapies. This review highlights the role of the innate immune response to sepsis and its downstream effects on kidney structure and function with special reference to the adaptive cellular response and glomerular hemodynamic changes. In addition, current evidence surrounding the management of patients with septic AKI is summarized. Finally, potential novel therapies for septic AKI are presented.

Acute Kidney Injury Induced by Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome is an Avid and Persistent Sodium-Retaining State

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), which is triggered by many conditions in the intensive care unit, including different types of circulatory shock. One under-recognized characteristic of the SIRS-induced AKI is its avidity for sodium retention, with progressive decreases in urinary sodium concentration (NaU) and its fractional excretion (FENa). This phenomenon occurs in parallel with increases in serum creatinine, being only transitorily mitigated by diuretic use. In the present case, we report a situation of two consecutive shocks: the first shock is hemorrhagic in origin and then the second shock is a septic one in the same patient. The SIRS and AKI triggered by the first shock were not completely solved when the second shock occurred. This could be viewed as a persistent avid sodium-retaining state, which may be appreciated even during renal replacement therapy (in the absence of complete anuria) and that usually solves only after complete AKI and SIRS resolution. We suggest that decreases in NaU and FENa are major characteristics of SIRS-induced AKI, irrespective of the primary cause, and may serve as additional monitoring tools in its development and resolution.