Establishment of a novel mouse peritoneal dialysis-associated peritoneal injury model

Peritoneal fibrosis induced by various factors during peritoneal dialysis (PD) can eventually lead to ultrafiltration failure and termination of PD treatment. The existing animal models are caused by a single stimulus, and cannot accurately simulate complex pathogenesis of peritoneal injury and fibrosis. We aim to develop an efficient and realistic mouse model of PD-associated peritoneal injury using daily intraperitoneal injection (I.P.) of human peritonitis PD effluent.

Eight-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were classified into six groups: saline control; 2.5% PD fluid; 2.5% PD fluid + lipopolysaccharide (LPS); 4.25% PD fluid; 4.25% PD fluid + LPS; and peritonitis effluent. Mice received daily I.P. for 6 weeks, and were sacrificed to determine peritoneal structural and functional damage, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Mice in the peritonitis effluent group had low mortality. The submesothelial thickness in the peritonitis effluent group was significantly greater than that in the 2.5% PD fluid group. The peritonitis effluent group had increased expression of fibrosis markers (α-SMA, Collagen I, etc.), neutrophil granulocytes (MPO), and macrophages (CD68, F4/80) in the peritoneum based on immunohistochemical staining; and significantly higher expression of inflammation markers (IL-1β, IL-6, etc.) and fibrosis markers (TGF-β1, α-SMA, etc.) based on real-time qPCR. Modified peritoneal equilibration tests (PET) demonstrated that I.P. of peritonitis effluent reduced peritoneal ultrafiltration.

Our novel animal model of PD-associated peritoneal injury faithfully simulates the clinical pathophysiological process. This animal model may be useful for study of the pathogenesis of PD-associated peritoneal injury and identification of novel treatments.