Eicosanoids: role in experimental renal disease

Because of their vasodilator and vasoconstrictor properties, vasoactive prostaglandins and thromboxane A2 have been proposed as modulators of the hemodynamic changes that occur in experimental models of renal disease. Increased synthesis of vasodilatory prostaglandins (PGE2) and perhaps prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) play a role in the maintenance of renal blood flow and GFR during states of impaired perfusion. In contrast, thromboxane A2 has been implicated as the vasoconstrictor responsible for the reduction of renal blood flow and GFR in certain animal models of experimental renal disease. These products and other metabolites of arachidonic acid may also participate in the immunological events underlying the onset and/or progression of experimental renal disease. It is evident that the pathophysiologic role of eicosanoids in experimental renal disease is not fully understood. Additional studies and further understanding of the many other potential roles of eicosanoids on immunological events, hemodynamic states, mesangial cell physiology, etc. are needed to comprehend more fully the extent of the participation of eicosanoids in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of renal disease.