Xia Y

Mast cell infiltration is involved in renal interstitial fibrosis in a rat model of protein-overload nephropathy.

Aims: The present study investigated the relationship between mast cells (MCs) and the protein expression of stem cell factor (SCF) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the regions of renal interstitial fibrosis with protein-overload nephropathy, in order to provide a good animal model to study the mechanism of renal fibrosis induced by proteinuria. Methods: 60 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into a bovine serum albumin (BSA) group and a control group. The intensity of MCs infiltration was examined by toluidine blue and chymase and tryptase staining. The protein expression of SCF and TGF-β1 was respectively examined by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. Results: Severe proteinuria was induced in rats of the BSA group. Expression of SCF and TGF-β1 was detected in the tubular and the interstitial cells. The number of MCs positively correlated with the severity of interstitial lesions and the expression of SCF and TGF-β1. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that in protein-overload nephropathy, MCs infiltrated into the kidney, and the expression of SCF and TGF-β1 gradually increased. They might play important roles in the development of renal interstitial fibrosis, but the underlying mechanism needs to be further studied.

[Clinical significance of saliva urea, creatinine, and uric acid levels in patients with chronic kidney disease].

OBJECTIVE To explore the changes and clinical significance of saliva urea, creatinine (Cr), uric acid (UA) in both healthy people and chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, and to provide a noninvasive, quick, accurate and reliable test to diagnose kindey disease. METHODS Urea, Cr and UA in the saliva and serum collected from both healthy people and the CKD patients were measured by biochemical analyzer. We calculated the correlation coefficient of Urea, Cr and UA between the saliva and serum, compared the levels of saliva Urea, Cr and UA among CKD patients in different periods, drew the receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve and analyzed the sensitivity and specificity of saliva Urea, Cr and UA to predict CKD patients in various periods. RESULTS The concentrations of Urea, Cr and UA in both the saliva and the serum were positively correlated in healthy individuals and CKD patients (r = 0.918, 0.932, 0.840 and 0.984, 0.971, 0.920). The levels of saliva Urea, Cr and UA in the CKD patients were significantly higher than those of healthy people (P<0.05). Saliva Urea, Cr and UA concentrations of middle and late stage CKD patients were obviously higher than those of healthy people and early stage CKD patients (P<0.05). Areas under the curve (AUC) of the ROC of Urea, Cr and UA to diagnose diverse periods of CKD were 0.898, 0.897 and 0.848. The sensitivity was 0.806, 0.776 and 0.704; and the specificity was 0.968, 0.989 and 0.871. CONCLUSION The levels of Urea, Cr and UA between the saliva and the serum are closely related. The concentration of saliva Urea, Cr and UA can reflect the renal damage, monitor kidney function of the CKD patients, and help diagnose middle to late stage CKD patients. It is a simple, nonivasive and quick method.

[Role of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor and its antibody in hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy].

OBJECTIVE To examine levels of M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) and its antibody in the patients with hepatitis B virus-associated membranous nephropathy (HBV-MN), and to explore the correlation of PLA2R with laboratory parameters and pathological characteristics.
 Methods: A total of 49 adult patients with biopsy-proved HBV-MN were enrolled in this study. Levels of anti-PLA2R antibody in serum and PLA2R in renal tissue were detected. Patients were assigned into two groups: a positive PLA2R group and a negative PLA2R group. Differences in laboratory parameters and pathological characteristics were compared between the two groups.
 Results: Of 49 patients with HBV-MN, 17 had positive PLA2R expression in renal tissues. In the positive PLA2R group, 10 patients were positive for serum anti-PLA2R antibody. Patients with positive PLA2R expression in renal tissues showed higher levels of 24 hour urinary protein [(4.6±3.9) g/d], serum HbsAg (70.5%) and renal HbsAg expression (71%), while lower level of serum albumin [(24.1±7.5) g/L] than those of the negative group.
 Conclusion: PLA2R is expressed in the renal tissues and serum anti-PLA2R antibody can be detected in some HBV-MN patients. Positive PLA2R expression in renal tissue might be related to HbsAg deposition in serum and renal tissues. Patients with positive PLA2R expression in renal tissue have more severe glomerular sclerosis.

[Evaluation of dialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease by salivary urea, creatinine and uric acid].

OBJECTIVE To explore the changes of saliva urea, creatinine (Cr), and uric acid (UA) before and after hemodialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and to evaluate the clearing effect of Urea, Cr, and UA. METHODS Saliva and serum (2 mL) were collected from the dialysis patients. The concentrations of Urea, Cr, and UA in both samples were measured by biochemical analyzer. The concentrations of Urea, Cr, and UA in the saliva and the serum, and their correlation were analyzed. Before and after the hemodialysis, the reduction ratio (RR) of Urea, Cr, and UA in the saliva and the serum was calculated. RESULTS In ESRD dialysis patients, the levels of Urea, Cr, and UA in the saliva and the serum were highly correlated (correlation coefficients were 0.979, 0.973, and 0.948, respectively). The concentrations of Urea, Cr, and UA in the saliva and the serum before the dialysis were lower than those after the dialysis, with significant difference (P<0.05). The RR of Urea, Cr, and UA in the saliva and the serum did not differ statistically (P>0.05). CONCLUSION The clearing effect of salivar Urea, Cr, and UA is similar to that of the serum. Saliva is expected to replace the serum to evaluate hemodialysis efficacy and monitor the renal disease in ESRD patients.

Correlation studies between urinary retinol binding protein and renal tubular damage

OBJECTIVE To study correlation between urinary retinol binding protein (RBP) content and renal tubular damage. METHODS A total of 1 353 healthy people and 186 patients with renal tubular damage diagnosed by renal biopsy were enrolled. The indicators such as endogenous creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), creatinine(Cr), urinary retinol binding protein(RBP), urinary β(2)-microglobulin(β(2)-MG), urinary N-acety1-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), urine specific gravity(SG), urine osmolality of the 2 groups were examined and compared. Score of tubulointerstitial impairing and all indicators were analyzed by Spearman rank correlation analysis, and the sensitivity and specificity of indicators were calculated. RESULTS Renal tubular damage was positively correlated with urinary RBP, β2-MG, NAG (r=0.863, P<0.001; r=0.777, P<0.001; r=0.374, P=0.002, respectively), while negatively correlated with urine osmolaling, SG (r=-0.519, P<0.001; r=-0.624, P<0.001, respectively). The specificity and sensitivity for renal tubular damage of RBP were 91.03% and 72.06%. CONCLUSION RBP is an idea marker for renal tubular damage, and is useful to diagnose renal tubular damage and assess the extent of the damage.