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Triglycerides in the human kidney cortex: relationship with body size
Ion Alexandru Bobulescu1, Yair Lotan2, Jianning Zhang3
1Department of Internal Medicine and the Charles and Jane Pak Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America.
Plos One
|August 30, 2014
Summary
Obesity is linked to kidney disease. This study found that higher body mass index (BMI) correlates with increased triglyceride fat accumulation in human kidney tissue, suggesting a role in kidney damage.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Metabolic Research
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Obesity elevates risks for kidney disease and uric acid stones, but mechanisms are unclear.
- Animal studies suggest renal lipid accumulation contributes, but human data is lacking.
- Non-adipose tissue fat accumulation (steatosis) is known in other organs but not the human kidney.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if lipid accumulation occurs in the human kidney with increasing body mass index (BMI).
- To quantify triglyceride content in human kidney cortex and correlate it with BMI.
- To examine the localization of lipid droplets and ceramide species in relation to BMI.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative biochemical assay to measure triglyceride levels in 54 human kidney cortex samples.
- Oil Red O staining to visualize lipid droplet distribution.
- Mass spectrometry to analyze 16 common ceramide species.
Main Results:
- Kidney cortex triglyceride content positively correlated with BMI (Spearman R=0.27, P=0.04).
- Lipid droplets were more prevalent in individuals with higher BMI, primarily in proximal tubule cells and glomeruli.
- Total ceramide levels showed an inverse correlation with triglyceride content.
Conclusions:
- Obesity is associated with abnormal triglyceride accumulation (steatosis) in the human kidney.
- Kidney steatosis and potential lipotoxicity may contribute to obesity-related kidney disease and nephrolithiasis.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise role of kidney steatosis in metabolic kidney disease.
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