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Siska Mortier

Publications and source records attributed to Siska Mortier.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Effects of conventional and new peritoneal dialysis fluids on leukocyte recruitment in the rat peritoneal membrane.

Peritonitis remains an important cause of morbidity and technique failure in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Conventional peritoneal dialysate fluids (PDF) inhibit peritoneal leukocyte function in vitro and may thus adversely affect the immune response to peritonitis. New PDF have been designed with neutral pH, low glucose degradation product (GDP) contents, and bicarbonate as buffer. The present intravital microscopy study examined the effects of conventional and new PDF on leukocyte behavior in the peritoneal microcirculation of Wistar rats. The visceral peritoneum was superfused by a control solution (EBSS), a conventional (CAPD), or a new bicarbonate-buffered PDF with neutral pH and low GDP content (CAPD BicaVera). In addition, spent conventional and new PDF were tested. The number of rolling, adhering, and extravasated leukocytes and leukocyte rolling velocity were assessed at different time intervals after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cell-free supernatants of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS-CFS). Exposure to LPS or CNS-CFS dissolved in EBSS dramatically increased the number of rolling, adhering and extravasated leukocytes and decreased leukocyte rolling velocity. Superfusion by CAPD abolished the LPS- or CNS-CFS-induced leukocyte recruitment, whereas CAPD BicaVera had significantly fewer depressant effect. Spent PDF affected the leukocyte response in a similar way as fresh PDF. High lactate concentrations, GDP, and hypertonicity appeared to be mainly responsible for the inhibition of leukocyte recruitment. In conclusion, conventional PDF abolish in vivo leukocyte recruitment in response to potent inflammatory stimuli. Bicarbonate-buffered pH-neutral PDF with low GDP contents have fewer depressant effects and may therefore contribute to a better preservation of peritoneal host defense.

Animals↗

Recent concepts in the molecular biology of the peritoneal membrane - implications for more biocompatible dialysis solutions.

This paper reviews some important recent findings on the molecular biology of the peritoneal membrane. It attempts to correlate in vitro and in vivo experimental results with the possible clinical consequences. The most common functional alteration during long-term CAPD is increased peritoneal small-solute transport rate, resulting in impaired ultrafiltration and decreased dialysis efficiency. This contribution first discusses the most relevant advances in the biochemistry and molecular biology of the peritoneal membrane following peritonitis and as consequence of the continuous exposure to unphysiological dialysis fluids. In a second part the preliminary experimental and clinical experience with more biocompatible fluids is summarized. The most relevant structural and functional alterations of the membrane following repeated peritonitis is the consequence of the response of the peritoneum to infective organisms involving the inflammatory cytokines and the interaction between membrane resident cell populations: macrophages, mesothelial cells and fibroblasts. In this setting, human biopsy studies and animal experiments have identified an increase in the peritoneal-associated vasculature, which seems to be the primary cause of increased solute transport. The structural and functional alterations in the membrane in long-term peritoneal dialysis are thought to be the consequence of the toxicity of glucose, either directly or indirectly through the generation of glucose degradation products or the formation of advanced glycation end-products. In particular, an important role for vascular endothelial growth factor and nitric oxide as downstream mediators of the alterations has been suggested. Finally, the last part of this paper reviews the actual and future research aimed at an amelioration of the biocompatibility of the dialysis fluids. Replacing glucose by other osmotic agents, changing the sterilization process, replacing the lactate buffer by bicarbonate, blocking the formation of reactive carbonyl products and of the neoangiogenesis are the most promising changes to enhance the biocompatibility. Finally, gene therapy may in the future have an important contribution. Ex vivo gene therapy involves harvesting peritoneum samples to isolate mesothelial cells that will be genetically modified before re-implantation into the peritoneal cavity.

Animals↗

Inhibition of the interaction of AGE-RAGE prevents hyperglycemia-induced fibrosis of the peritoneal membrane.

The peritoneal membrane of long-term peritoneal dialysis patients is characterized by a loss of ultrafiltration capacity, associated morphologically with submesothelial fibrosis and neoangiogenesis. Exposure to high glucose concentrations in peritoneal dialysate and the resultant advanced glycation end-products (AGE) accumulation have been implicated in the development of these changes, but their exact pathophysiological role is unknown. We examined the effect of the interaction of AGE with one of their receptors (i.e., RAGE) on the function and structure of the peritoneum exposed to high ambient glucose concentrations. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and control rats were treated during 6 wk with either neutralizing monoclonal anti-RAGE antibodies or control antibodies. The expression of RAGE was strongly enhanced in the peritoneal membrane of the diabetic animals. The diabetic peritonea were characterized by an elevated transport of small solutes, lower ultrafiltration rates, a higher vascular density, and an upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. These parameters were unaffected by treatment with anti-RAGE antibodies. In contrast, anti-RAGE but not control antibodies prevented upregulation of TGF-beta, development of submesothelial fibrosis, and fibronectin accumulation in the peritoneum of diabetic animals. In conclusion, binding of AGE to RAGE increases the expression of TGF-beta and contributes to the development of submesothelial fibrosis. Neoangiogenesis and the resultant loss of ultrafiltration capacity are mediated by different pathogenetic pathways.

Albumins↗

Hemodynamic effects of peritoneal dialysis solutions on the rat peritoneal membrane: role of acidity, buffer choice, glucose concentration, and glucose degradation products.

Conventional peritoneal dialysis fluids (PDF) are unphysiologic because of their hypertonicity, high glucose and lactate concentrations, acidic pH, and presence of glucose degradation products (GDP). Long-term exposure to conventional PDF may cause functional and structural alterations of the peritoneal membrane. New PDF have a neutral pH, a low GDP content, and contain bicarbonate or lactate as the buffer. Intravital microscopy was used to analyze the vasoactive effects of conventional and new PDF on the rat peritoneal membrane. A conventional, acidic pH, lactate-buffered 4.25% glucose PDF induced maximal vasodilation of mesenteric arteries, resulting in a doubling of the arteriolar flow and a 20% increase of the perfused capillary length per area. The hemodynamic effects of conventional PDF were similar after pH-adjustment with NaOH, indicating that acidity per se is not essential for the changes. Superfusion by a pH-neutral, lactate-buffered PDF with low GDP content caused only a transient arterial vasodilation despite continuous exposure, with a commensurate effect on arteriolar flow and capillary recruitment. Application of a pH-neutral, bicarbonate-buffered PDF with low GDP content did not affect the hemodynamic parameters. Resterilization of the bicarbonate solution increased GDP levels and completely restored the vasodilatory capacity. The corresponding 1.5% glucose PDF induced similar but less pronounced changes. Conventional PDF have important vasoactive effects on the peritoneal circulation, mainly because of the presence of GDP and transiently because of high lactate concentrations. Capillary recruitment may increase effective peritoneal vascular surface area. In addition, chronic vasodilation may induce structural adaptations in the blood vessel wall, contributing to vascular sclerosis. PDF with reduced GDP content induce no major hemodynamic effects and may thus have the potential to better preserve peritoneal vascular integrity.

Acids↗

The effects of heparin administration in an animal model of chronic peritoneal dialysate exposure.

Diverse modes of heparin administration have been used in animal models of chronic peritoneal dialysate exposure to maintain catheter patency and prevent fibrinous adhesions. Heparin has biological actions independent of its well-known anticoagulant activity, including the ability to modulate extracellular matrix synthesis, cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation. These actions may interfere with peritoneal membrane homeostasis. The present study evaluated the influence of the mode of heparin administration on technique survival and infection rate in a rat model of chronic dialysate exposure. Further, the incorporation of heparin in the peritoneal membrane was examined. A 3.86% glucose dialysate was injected twice daily into Wistar rats with a heparin-coated catheter (group A1), or with a standard catheter with heparin injections during the entire exposure time (group A2) or only during 1 week (group A3). Sham manipulations were performed in a fourth group and a fifth group was left untreated. Technique survival was 80% in group A1, 60% in group A2, and 40% in group A3. The rate of infection was highest in group A1 and lowest in group A2. Intraperitoneally administered heparin accumulated in the peritoneal membrane, whereas dextran, with a molecular weight similar to that of heparin, was not incorporated in the peritoneum. In conclusion, intraperitoneal heparin reduced the incidence of infection in an animal model of chronic dialysate exposure. The best technique survival was, however, obtained using a heparin-coated catheter. Heparin is incorporated in the peritoneal membrane, where it may exert diverse biological actions and thus bias study results. The use of a heparin-coated catheter in combination with antibiotics may be the optimal approach to obtaining peritoneal access in animal models of chronic dialysate exposure.

Animals↗

Antibiotic administration in an animal model of chronic peritoneal dialysate exposure.

OBJECTIVES: The high incidence of intraperitoneal infection remains an important problem in animal models of chronic dialysate exposure. Prophylactic antibiotic administration can be used to resolve this problem, but the isolated effects of antibiotics on peritoneal membrane function and structure are unknown. The present study examined the effects of prophylactic antibiotics on infection rate and peritoneal membrane function and structure in a rat model of chronic dialysate exposure. DESIGN: A first group of rats (A; n = 12) received 10 mL 3.86% glucose dialysate twice daily through a heparin-coated catheter. In a second group of animals (B; n = 12), oxacillin 2.5 mg/day and gentamicin 0.04 mg/day were added to the dialysate. Group C (n = 12) was injected twice daily with an identical dose of antibiotics dissolved in 1 mL of buffer solution. Group D (n = 12) was left untreated. Dialysate cultures were obtained regularly. After 8 weeks of exposure, peritoneal transport studies were performed and samples for histology were obtained. RESULTS: Technique survival was 92% in group A and 100% in the remaining groups. Five rats in group A but none of the animals in the other groups developed peritonitis. The transport rates of small solutes were elevated and net ultrafiltration was decreased in group A compared to the controls. Fibrosis, as evaluated by quantifying Picro Sirius Red staining with image analysis, was significantly elevated in group A (3.48% +/- 1.06% vs 0.72% +/- 0.51% in group D, p < 0.05) but not in group B (0.29% +/- 0.07%) or in group C (0.52% +/- 0.28%). Vascular density, measured by counting the number of blood vessels that stained positive for endothelial NO synthase, was increased in both groups that were exposed to dialysate: 153.0 +/- 12.9/microm2 in group A and 131.6 +/- 14.3/microm2 in group B, versus 76.76 +/- 12.37/microm2 in group C and 73.2 +/- 10.4/microm2 in group D (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Prophylactic administration of oxacillin and gentamicin adequately prevented intraperitoneal infection in an animal model of chronic dialysate exposure. In addition, fibrosis was absent, suggesting intraperitoneal infection rather than dialysate exposure is a causative factor.

Animals↗