Background Recent data have shown that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can infect renal proximal tubular cells via Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) . Our objective was to determine whether Fanconi syndrome is a frequent clinical feature in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods A retrospective cohort of 42 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients without history of kidney disease hospitalized in University Hospital of Nancy was investigated. Patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 28) or the Medical department (n = 14) and were screened at least once for four markers of proximal tubulopathy. Results The mean (standard deviation) follow-up was 19.7 (±12.2) days. Of the patients, 75% (30/40) showed at least two proximal tubule abnormalities (incomplete Fanconi syndrome). The main disorders were proteinuria (88%, n = 35), renal phosphate leak defined by renal phosphate threshold/glomerular filtration rate (TmPi/GFR) <0.77 (55%, n = 22), hyperuricosuria (43%, n = 17) and normoglycaemic glycosuria (30%, n = 12). At the time of the first renal evaluation, ICU patients presented more frequent (96 versus 62%, P = 0.0095) and more severe (844 ± 343 versus 350 ± 221 mg/g, P = 0.0001) proteinuria, and a trend for an increased number of proximal tubule abnormalities (P = 0.038). During follow-up, they presented a lower nadir of serum phosphate [median (interquartile range) 0.68 (0.43–0.76) versus 0.77 (0.66–1.07) mmol/L, P = 0.044] and Acute kidney Injury (AKI) during the hospitalization (P = 0.045). Fanconi syndrome preceded severe AKI KDIGO Stages 2 and 3 in 88% (7/8) of patients. Proximal tubular abnormalities (such as proteinuria, TmPi/GFR and glycosuria in five, two and two patients, respectively) were not detected anymore in recovering patients before hospital discharge. Conclusion Incomplete Fanconi syndrome is highly frequent in COVID-19 patients and precedes AKI or disappears during the recovery phase.
De novo expression in the kidney of periostin, a protein involved in odontogenesis and osteogenesis, has been suggested as a biomarker of renal disease. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) of induction and the role of periostin in renal disease. Using a combination of bioinformatics, reporter assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, we found that NFkB and other proinflammatory transcription factors induce periostin expression in vitro and that binding of these factors on the periostin promoter is enriched in glomeruli during experimental GN. Mice lacking expression of periostin displayed preserved renal function and structure during GN. Furthermore, delayed administration of periostin antisense oligonucleotides in wild-type animals with GN reversed already established proteinuria, diminished tissue inflammation, and improved renal structure. Lack of periostin expression also blunted the de novo renal expression of integrin-b3 and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and AKT, known mediators of integrin-b3 signaling that affect cell motility and survival, observed during GN in wild-type animals. In vitro, recombinant periostin increased the expression of integrin-b3 and the concomitant phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase and AKT in podocytes. Notably, periostin and integrin-b3 were highly colocalized in biopsy specimens from patients with inflammatory GN. These results demonstrate that interplay between periostin and renal inflammation orchestrates inflammatory and fibrotic responses, driving podocyte damage through downstream activation of integrin-b3 signaling. Targeting periostin may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treating CKD.
Significance Statement AKI has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality or secondary organ dysfunctions. A better understanding of the mechanisms governing renal injury and repair may lead to a more efficient management of patients suffering from AKI. This paper identifies periostin, produced by damaged epithelial cells after murine ischemic injury, as a novel and important mediator of renal repair after AKI. It demonstrates that periostin protects epithelial cells from persistent cell cycle arrest and death and promotes a proregenerative macrophage phenotype, both of which contribute to a more efficient repair of the injured epithelium. Our findings provide novel insights in the repair mechanisms following AKI, which may contribute to a better care of AKI patients.
In African-American patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), APOL1 G1 and G2 variants are associated with increased risk of sickle cell nephropathy (SCN). To determine the role of APOL1 variants in SCD patients living in Europe, we genotyped 152 SCD patients [aged 30·4 (24·3-36·4) years], mainly of Sub-Saharan African ancestry, for APOL1 G1 and G2 and for variants of four genes with kidney tropism (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and HMOX1). Homozygous or double-heterozygous APOL G1 and G2 genotypes were strongly associated with end stage renal disease (P = 0·003) and worse Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes stages (P = 0·001). Further, these genotypes were associated in an age-dependent manner with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, P = 0·008), proteinuria (P = 0·009) and albuminuria (P < 0·001) but not with other SCD complications. Compared to APOL1 G1/wild type (WT), the APOL1 G2/WT genotype was associated with a lower eGFR (P = 0·04) in an age-dependent manner, suggesting that the G2/WT patients are likely to have worse kidney prognosis. Other genes variants analysed were not associated with SCN or other SCD complications. Our data indicate that APOL1 screening should be considered for the management of SCD patients, including those of non-African-American origin, as those with homozygous or double heterozygous variants are clearly at higher risk of SCN.
Background: In patients with severe COVID-19, no data are available on the longitudinal evolution of biochemical abnormalities and their ability to predict disease outcomes. Methods: Using a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study design on consecutive patients with severe COVID-19, we used an extensive biochemical dataset of serial data and time-series design to estimate the occurrence of organ dysfunction and the severity of the inflammatory reaction and their association with acute respiratory failure (ARF) and death. Findings: On the 162 studied patients, 1151 biochemical explorations were carried out for up to 59 biochemical markers, totaling 15,260 biochemical values. The spectrum of biochemical abnormalities and their kinetics were consistent with a multi-organ involvement, including lung, kidney, heart, liver, muscle, and pancreas, along with a severe inflammatory syndrome. The proportion of patients who developed an acute kidney injury (AKI) stage 3, increased significantly during follow-up (0¢9%, day 0; 21¢4%, day 14; P<0¢001). On the 20 more representative biochemical markers (>250 iterations), only CRP >90 mg/L (odds ratio [OR] 6¢87, 95% CI, 2¢36À20¢01) and urea nitrogen >0¢36 g/L (OR 3¢91, 95% CI, 1¢15À13¢29) were independently associated with the risk of ARF. Urea nitrogen >0¢42 g/L was the only marker associated with the risk of COVID-19 related death. Interpretation: Our results point out the lack of the association between the inflammatory markers and the risk of death but rather highlight a significant association between renal dysfunction and the risk of COVID-19 related acute respiratory failure and death.
A widespread belief is that typical hemolytic and uremic syndrome (HUS) does not recur. We report the case of a patient infected twice with raw milk taken from his own cow and containing a Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli O174:H21 that induced recurrent HUS causing severe renal and cerebral disorders. A genomic comparison of the human and bovine Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli O174:H21 isolates revealed that they were identical.Typical HUS may recur. Since milk from this animal was occasionally distributed locally, thereby posing a serious threat for the whole village, this particular cow was destroyed.
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