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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
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Assessment of Vascular Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

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A subset of low density granulocytes is associated with vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease patients

Javier Rodríguez-Carrio1,2, Natalia Carrillo-López2,3, Catalina Ulloa4

  • 1Area of Immunology, Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain.

Scientific Reports
|September 15, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Low density granulocytes (LDGs) are increased in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, particularly a CD14-CD16-CD15+ subset linked to vascular calcification. This LDG expansion may serve as a biomarker for CKD progression and vascular complications.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Immunology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Inflammation is a key driver in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its associated vascular complications.
  • The specific cellular players mediating this inflammation in CKD remain incompletely understood.
  • Low density granulocytes (LDGs) are recognized as emerging inflammatory mediators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate alterations in LDGs within the chronic kidney disease (CKD) population.
  • To determine if LDGs correlate with clinical outcomes, specifically vascular calcification.
  • To explore the potential of LDGs as diagnostic biomarkers in CKD.

Main Methods:

  • Peripheral blood samples from 33 CKD patients on peritoneal dialysis and 15 healthy controls were analyzed using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.
  • LDG subsets, including CD14lowCD16+ and CD14-CD16- populations, were quantified.
  • Gene expression of DEF3, a marker of early granulopoiesis, was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) via qPCR.

Main Results:

  • CKD patients exhibited an expansion of total CD15+ LDGs, with a notable increase in the CD14-CD16-CD15+ subset.
  • The frequency of the CD14-CD16-CD15+ LDG subpopulation was significantly higher in CKD patients and remained stable over time.
  • Increased CD14-CD16-CD15+ LDGs correlated with vascular calcification scores (Kauppila scores) and elevated DEF3 expression in PBMCs.

Conclusions:

  • Low density granulocytes (LDGs) are expanded in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, characterized by a distinct CD14-CD16-CD15+ subset.
  • This specific LDG subset is associated with the presence and severity of vascular calcification in CKD.
  • DEF3 gene expression in PBMCs may serve as a valuable indicator of LDG expansion and potential disease progression in CKD.

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