Glomerular Biomechanical Stress and Lipid Mediators during Cellular Changes Leading to Chronic Kidney Disease

Oxylipins Derived from PUFAs in Cardiometabolic Diseases: Mechanism of Actions and Possible Nutritional Interactions

Oxylipins are oxidized fatty acids, both saturated and unsaturated, formed through pathways that involve singlet oxygen or dioxygen-mediated oxygenation reactions and are primarily produced by enzyme families such as cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and cytochrome P450. These lipid-based complex bioactive molecules are pivotal signal mediators, acting in a hormone-like manner in the pathophysiology of numerous diseases, especially cardiometabolic diseases via modulating plenty of mechanisms. It has been reported that omega-6 and omega-3 oxylipins are important novel biomarkers of cardiometabolic diseases. Moreover, collected literature has noted that diet and dietary components, especially fatty acids, can modulate these oxygenated lipid products since they are mainly derived from dietary omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) or linoleic acid and α-linolenic by elongation and desaturation pathways. This comprehensive review aims to examine their correlations to cardiometabolic diseases and how diets modulate oxylipins. Also, some aspects of developing new biomarkers and therapeutical utilization are detailed in this review.

Podocyte-targeted therapies - progress and future directions

Podocytes are the key target cells for injury across the spectrum of primary and secondary proteinuric kidney disorders, which account for up to 90% of cases of kidney failure worldwide. Seminal experimental and clinical studies have established a causative link between podocyte depletion and the magnitude of proteinuria in progressive glomerular disease. However, no substantial advances have been made in glomerular disease therapies, and the standard of care for podocytopathies relies on repurposed immunosuppressive drugs. The past two decades have seen a remarkable expansion in understanding of the mechanistic basis of podocyte injury, with prospects increasing for precision-based treatment approaches. Dozens of disease-causing genes with roles in the pathogenesis of clinical podocytopathies have been identified, as well as a number of putative glomerular permeability factors. These achievements, together with the identification of novel targets of podocyte injury, the development of potential approaches to harness the endogenous podocyte regenerative potential of progenitor cell populations, ongoing clinical trials of podocyte-specific pharmacological agents and the development of podocyte-directed drug delivery systems, contribute to an optimistic outlook for the future of glomerular disease therapy.

The Strong Effect of Propolis in Suppressing NF-κB, CysC, and ACE2 on a High-fat Diet

Background: A high fat diet (HFD)is one of the main causes of obesity and is closely linked to metabolic disorders brought on by stress and malfunctioning tissues. Propolis (Trigona Honey) is considered to be helpful in treating inflammatory diseases because it has also been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory and anti-free radical properties. This study to demonstrate how much propolis supplementation affects BW, NF-κB, CysC, and ACE2 levels in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) fed a HFD. Methods: Post-test and control group designs in an experimental setup. A total of twenty-four rats were randomly assigned to four groups of six. Group I received a normal diet for sixteen weeks (ND), Group II received a high fat diet (HFD) for sixteen weeks (HFD), Group III received an HFD for sixteen weeks plus propolis for eight weeks (HFD-8), and Group IV received an HFD and propolis for sixteen weeks (HFD-16). Using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), body weight (BW), serum NF-κB, Cys C, and ACE2 levels were measured before treatment (week 0), after 8 weeks of HFD (HFD-8) (week 8), and after 16 weeks of HFD (HFD-16). Results: The mean starting weight in the ND, HFD, HFD-8, and HFD-16 groups did not differ significantly (p > 0.001). By week eight, the HFD group's body weight had increased considerably (254.83 grams vs. 202.0 grams) in comparison to the ND group (p<0.001). The HFD and HFD-8 groups' body weight increased significantly at week 16 in comparison to the ND group (334.83 grams and 269.50 grams vs. 208.67 grams) (p<0.001). At week 16, there was no discernible difference in mean BW between ND and HFD-16 (p > 0.001). There was no significant difference found in the mean initial NF-κB levels between the ND, HFD, HFD-8, and HFD-16 groups (p > 0.001). At week 8, NF-κB levels in the HFD group were significantly higher (5,038 ng/ml vs. 3,655 ng/ml) (p<0.001) than in the ND group. At week 16, NF-κB levels in the HFD and HFD-8 groups were notably higher than those in the ND group (p<0.001), at 6,136 ng/ml and 4,378 ng/ml, respectively, compared to 3,775 ng/ml. Between ND and HFD-16, there was no significant distinction in the mean NF-κB levels at week 16 (p>0.001). There was no significant difference observed in the mean CysC and ACE2 between the ND, HFD, HFD-8, and HFD-16 groups (p > 0.001). CysC and ACE2 levels in the HFD group were significantly higher than those in the ND group at week 8, and in the HFD and HFD-8 groups, they were significantly higher than those in the ND group at week 16. When propolis is administered for eight weeks, the rise in BW, NF-κB, CysC, and ACE2 is suppressed until the eighth week, at which point it increases once more until the sixteenth week. Propolis administration, however, will halt the rise in BW, NF-κB, CysC, and ACE2 until the sixteenth week. Conclusion: Propolis administration for 16 weeks can suppress the increase in BW, LI, RI, NF-κB, CysC and ACE2 levels in rats given a high fat diet (HFD).

Generally-healthy individuals with aberrant bowel movement frequencies show enrichment for microbially-derived blood metabolites associated with reduced kidney function

Bowel movement frequency (BMF) has been linked to changes in the composition of the human gut microbiome and to many chronic conditions, like metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and other intestinal pathologies like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease. Lower BMF (constipation) can lead to compromised intestinal barrier integrity and a switch from saccharolytic to proteolytic fermentation within the microbiota, giving rise to microbially-derived toxins that may make their way into circulation and cause damage to organ systems. However, the connections between BMF, gut microbial metabolism, and the early-stage development and progression of chronic disease remain underexplored. Here, we examined the phenotypic impact of BMF variation in a cohort of generally-healthy, community dwelling adults with detailed clinical, lifestyle, and multi-omic data. We showed significant differences in microbially-derived blood plasma metabolites, gut bacterial genera, clinical chemistries, and lifestyle factors across BMF groups that have been linked to inflammation, cardiometabolic health, liver function, and CKD severity and progression. We found that the higher plasma levels of 3-indoxyl sulfate (3-IS), a microbially-derived metabolite associated with constipation, was in turn negatively associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), a measure of kidney function. Causal mediation analysis revealed that the effect of BMF on eGFR was significantly mediated by 3-IS. Finally, we identify self-reported diet, lifestyle, and psychological factors associated with BMF variation, which indicate several common-sense strategies for mitigating constipation and diarrhea. Overall, we suggest that aberrant BMF is an underappreciated risk factor in the development of chronic diseases, even in otherwise healthy populations.

The Intersection of Genetic Factors, Aberrant Nutrient Metabolism and Oxidative Stress in the Progression of Cardiometabolic Disease

Cardiometabolic disease (CMD), which encompasses metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), has been increasing considerably in the past 50 years. CMD is a complex disease that can be influenced by genetics and environmental factors such as diet. With the increased reliance on processed foods containing saturated fats, fructose and cholesterol, a mechanistic understanding of how these molecules cause metabolic disease is required. A major pathway by which excessive nutrients contribute to CMD is through oxidative stress. In this review, we discuss how oxidative stress can drive CMD and the role of aberrant nutrient metabolism and genetic risk factors and how they potentially interact to promote progression of MAFLD, CVD and CKD. This review will focus on genetic mutations that are known to alter nutrient metabolism. We discuss the major genetic risk factors for MAFLD, which include Patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3), Membrane Bound O-Acyltransferase Domain Containing 7 (MBOAT7) and Transmembrane 6 Superfamily Member 2 (TM6SF2). In addition, mutations that prevent nutrient uptake cause hypercholesterolemia that contributes to CVD. We also discuss the mechanisms by which MAFLD, CKD and CVD are mutually associated with one another. In addition, some of the genetic risk factors which are associated with MAFLD and CVD are also associated with CKD, while some genetic risk factors seem to dissociate one disease from the other. Through a better understanding of the causative effect of genetic mutations in CMD and how aberrant nutrient metabolism intersects with our genetics, novel therapies and precision approaches can be developed for treating CMD.

Obesity-Related Kidney Disease: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives

Obesity is a serious chronic disease and an independent risk factor for the new onset and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD prevalence is expected to increase, at least partly due to the continuous rise in the prevalence of obesity. The concept of obesity-related kidney disease (OKD) has been introduced to describe the still incompletely understood interplay between obesity, CKD, and other cardiometabolic conditions, including risk factors for OKD and cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes and hypertension. Current therapeutics target obesity and CKD individually. Non-pharmacological interventions play a major part, but the efficacy and clinical applicability of lifestyle changes and metabolic surgery remain debatable, because the strategies do not benefit everyone, and it remains questionable whether lifestyle changes can be sustained in the long term. Pharmacological interventions, such as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors and the non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist finerenone, provide kidney protection but have limited or no impact on body weight. Medicines based on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) induce clinically relevant weight loss and may also offer kidney benefits. An urgent medical need remains for investigations to better understand the intertwined pathophysiologies in OKD, paving the way for the best possible therapeutic strategies in this increasingly prevalent disease complex.