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Identification of the Source of Secreted Proteins in the Kidney by Brefeldin A Injection
Published on: November 10, 2021
PDGFR-β and kidney fibrosis
1IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health threat. Targeting kidney fibrosis, a key feature of CKD, offers new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for earlier detection and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Pathology
- Biomedical Research
Background:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a rapidly increasing cause of mortality worldwide, with projections placing it among the top five causes of death by 2040.
- Current diagnostic and management strategies for CKD have significant limitations, necessitating novel approaches.
- Even early stages of CKD, with preserved renal function, are linked to a higher risk of premature mortality.
Discussion:
- Kidney fibrosis, characterized by inflammation and parenchymal cell loss, is the primary histopathological feature of CKD.
- Fibrosis presents a promising target for developing diagnostic tools for earlier CKD detection.
- Targeting kidney fibrosis could offer therapeutic avenues to decelerate CKD progression or even induce regression.
Key Insights:
- Early diagnosis of CKD is crucial due to the association with increased mortality risk even in early stages.
- Kidney fibrosis is a central pathological process in CKD.
- Fibrosis represents a viable target for both diagnostic and therapeutic advancements in CKD management.
Outlook:
- Development of novel diagnostic tests based on kidney fibrosis markers.
- Exploration of anti-fibrotic therapies to slow or reverse CKD progression.
- Improved patient outcomes through earlier CKD detection and intervention targeting fibrosis.
Abstract:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the fastest growing global causes of death, estimated to rank among the top five by 2040 (Foreman et al, 2018). This illustrates current pitfalls in diagnosis and management of CKD. Advanced CKD requires renal function replacement by dialysis or transplantation. However, earlier CKD stages, even when renal function is still normal, are already associated with an increased risk of premature death (Perez-Gomez et al, 2019). Thus, novel approaches to diagnose and treat CKD are needed. The histopathological hallmark of CKD is kidney fibrosis, which is closely associated with local inflammation and loss of kidney parenchymal cells. Thus, kidney fibrosis is an attractive process to develop tests allowing an earlier diagnosis of CKD and represents a potential therapeutic target to slow CKD progression or promote regression.
