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[The changing meaning of the term nephrosis since Noeggerath (author's transl)].

The term nephrosis has changed its meaning considerably since it was coined by Friedrich v. Müller. At the time of Noeggerath, whose 100 anniversary just has passed, nephrosis was defined by morphological terms describing various histological alterations of the renal tubuli which were considered to be degenerative. Today nephrosis is a clinical diagnosis, and usually called nephrotic syndrome. It is characterized by heavy proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, and can be produced by various etiological causes. In pediatrics the most frequent type is lipoid nephrosis which is characterized by minimal glomerular lesions, negative immunofluorescence and steroid responsiveness. Patients with frequent relapses of lipoid nephrosis are difficult to handle by the physician, therefore the "International Study of Kidney Diseases in Children" and the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Pädiatrische Nephrologie" are conducting cooperative therapeutic trials, which results are mentioned briefly.

Child↗

Congenital nephrosis in low-risk pregnancies.

Congenital nephrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder requiring neonatal renal transplant for survival. The postnatal diagnosis rests upon the electron microscopic evaluation of the epithelial foot processes and basal membrane of the glomeruli. The prenatal diagnosis can be suspected in the presence of a positive family history with an amniotic fluid (AF) alpha-fetoprotein level greater than 5 standard deviations (SD) above the population mean accompanied by a negative AF acetylcholinesterase, absent haemoglobin F, and an unremarkable fetal sonographic examination. We reviewed our series of seven cases of congenital nephrosis fulfilling the above criteria; four cases had negative family histories, and in two cases the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis was further supported by the presence of elevated AF albumin concentrations. We conclude that (1) the prenatal diagnosis of congenital nephrosis is feasible in a low-risk population, and (2) an elevated AF albumin concentration may represent an additional marker for the diagnosis of congenital nephrosis, even though false-negative results have been reported.

Amniotic Fluid↗

Effect of zelandopam, a dopamine D1-like receptor agonist, in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis rats.

The present experiment was designed to investigate the role of peripheral dopamine D1-like receptors and to evaluate the prophylactic effect of zelandopam, a dopamine D1-like receptor agonist, on puromycin aminonucleoside (PA)-induced nephrosis in rats. Rats were divided into six groups (n=10 per group): 0.9% saline-injected rats (control); PA-injected rats (PAN); PA-injected rats treated with the selective dopamine D1-like receptor agonist zelandopam (30, 100, 300 mg/kg p.o. twice a day); PA-injected rats treated with prednisolone (1 mg/kg p.o. once a day). Nephrosis was induced in rats with a single intravenous injection of PA at a dose of 50 mg/kg. The effects of zelandopam and prednisolone in PA nephrosis rats were evaluated before injection of PA and at 7 and 14 days after injection. PA-induced nephrosis was characterized by an increase in urinary protein excretion (proteinuria) and plasma total cholesterol. Zelandopam dose-dependently attenuated the increase in proteinuria and total cholesterol. Prednisolone significantly attenuated the increase in proteinuria and total cholesterol and resulted in a significant decrease in body weight. The present study demonstrates for the first time that zelandopam, a selective dopamine D1-like receptor agonist, is effective in blunting the development of PA-induced nephrosis, and that the effects of zelandopam are dose dependent.

Animals↗

Involvement of angiotensin II in development of spontaneous nephrosis in Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

We investigated the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on spontaneous nephrosis in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl/S) rats. Dahl/S rats fed on a normal sodium diet spontaneously developed nephrosis and mild hypertension from a young age. In young Dahl/S rats, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, imidapril, attenuated the development of proteinuria accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure. Methylprednisolone, a potent therapeutic agent for proteinuria, did not affect the development of nephrosis. An angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan, but not a Ca2+ channel blocker, verapamil, inhibited the development of nephrosis while both agents decreased blood pressure to a similar extent as imidapril. In mature Dahl/S rats, imidapril suppressed not only the development of proteinuria but also the glomerular lesions. It is concluded that the development of spontaneous nephrosis in Dahl/S rats is mediated by angiotensin II.

Aging↗

Effects of methylprednisolone on glomerular and medullary mRNA levels for extracellular matrices in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.

We examined the effects of methylprednisolone (MPSL) on type IV collagen, laminin and heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) mRNA levels in the renal glomeruli and medulla of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis. mRNA levels encoding for type IV collagen and laminin increased markedly, whereas those for HSPG decreased significantly in glomeruli of PAN nephrosis. Administration of MPSL partially ameliorated the abnormal gene expression for basement membrane components. Furthermore, we showed that medullary mRNA levels for all these basement membrane components decreased with age in PAN nephrosis with or without MPSL treatment, suggesting that neither PAN nor MPSL has any effect on basement membrane component mRNA levels in the renal medulla. In contrast, mRNA levels for the interstitial collagens including alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) chains in glomeruli showed little change with or without MPSL treatment, whereas those in medulla increased significantly in PAN nephrosis when compared with the control. MPSL ameliorated the abnormal gene expression of alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) collagen in renal medulla. These results indicate that PAN affects both glomerular mRNA encoding for basement membrane components and medullary mRNA encoding for interstitial collagens, and that MPSL has marked effects on the amelioration of abnormal gene expression in both glomeruli and medulla of PAN nephrosis.

Animals↗

Mitochondrial dysfunction in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis of puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.

Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is a major renal complication of mitochondrial (mt) cytopathies. The present study was designed to investigate the possibility of mtDNA lesion accumulation in podocytes, which are a primary pathogenic site of FSGS, during the development of glomerulopathy in puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis (PAN). Two renal pathological phases of PAN, nephrosis phase and FSGS phase were studied. We investigated the expression of mt proteins, the copy number of a 4834 base-pair deletion (del-mtDNA), and total mtDNA content by real-time polymerase chain reaction, as well as the mRNA expression levels of the mt transcription factor A (mtTFA) and the nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) in glomeruli. The mtDNA encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX I) protein level was identical to control in nephrosis phase, however, a 45% reduction was seen in FSGS phase. Intraglomerular del-mtDNA was 16-21 times higher than controls in both phases, but the proportion of this mutation was <1% of total mtDNA. The copy number of total mtDNA at nephrosis phase increased up to 241%, whereas, it decreased to 34% at FSGS phase in glomeruli. The mRNA expression of both mtTFA and NRF-1 was upregulated at nephrosis phase, but mtTFA was downregulated at FSGS phase. A reduction in mtDNA copy number resulted in reduced levels of COX I in glomeruli at FSGS phase, suggesting that mt dysfunction by mtDNA depletion potentially plays a key role in the pathogenesis of FSGS in PAN.

Animals↗

Cyclosporin A (CsA) modulates the glomerular production of inflammatory mediators and proteoglycans in experimental nephrosis.

Nephrosis is characterized by glomerular epithelial cell injury and a decrease in the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) proteoglycan content. Although CsA is a useful treatment for a group of patients with this disease, its mechanism of action is unclear. We have previously shown that in experimental nephrosis there is an increase in the glomerular production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and platelet-activating factor (PAF). Here we have studied the effect of CsA on kidney generation of TNF-alpha and PAF in puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) nephrosis as well as on the synthesis of proteoglycans by cultured glomerular epithelial cells. Rats receiving CsA had, on day 8 of PAN injection, a significant reduction in proteinuria, blood cholesterol levels and in interstitial mononuclear cells. A diminution in glomerular production and urinary excretion of TNF-alpha and PAF was also noted. In in vitro studies, at 24 h of incubation PAF and TNF-alpha induced in glomerular epithelial cells a significant decrease in proteoglycan synthesis. Neither PAF nor TNF-alpha had any significant effect on glomerular epithelial cell proliferation. CsA alone induced a dose-response increase in proteoglycan synthesis and a slight decrease in cell proliferation. CsA also reversed the inhibitory effect of PAF and TNF-alpha on proteoglycan synthesis. However, CsA did not alter the pattern of proteoglycan production, remaining around 50% chondroitinase ABC-, 15% heparitinase-sensitive. Our results indicate that PAF and TNF-alpha could be implicated in the pathogenesis of nephrosis through the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis by glomerular epithelial cells. The beneficial effect of CsA in nephrosis may be due to the recovery of the GBM charge selectivity caused by the normalization of glomerular PAF and TNF-alpha synthesis and the increase in proteoglycan synthesis by glomerular epithelial cells.

Animals↗

Antenatal screening for congenital nephrosis in Finland by maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein.

In the Kuopio and North-Karelia districts of Finland 10724 pregnancies were screened for congenital nephrosis by maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) measurement. Outcome was known for 10504 (98%) pregnancies, of which 509 (4 X 8%) had a serum AFP level greater than or equal to 2 X 5 multiples of the normal median (MoM) at 15-18 weeks gestation. After exclusion of those women who had a normal serum AFP level (less than 2 X 5 MoM) in a second sample, 'wrong dates' or multiple pregnancy, 267 (2 X 5%) remained with a high serum AFP level. Amniocentesis was carried out in 225 (2 X 1%) and 16 women had an amniotic fluid AFP level greater than 10 SD above the normal mean. In this group there were six fetuses with congenital nephrosis (four confirmed and two suspected), six other serious malformations (including an intrauterine death) and four without obvious abnormality. In the 98% pregnancies followed up there were no infants with congenital nephrosis that had been missed. Babies with congenital nephrosis require permanent hospitalization and have a mean survival of 8 months. In Finland, within certain areas, the birth prevalence is as high as 1 in 2600 per year. In such areas maternal serum AFP measurement appears to be a useful method of screening for congenital nephrosis. The service was also well accepted since 94% of the women with raised serum AFP levels wished to be screened again in a future pregnancy.

Amniocentesis↗

Mortality from nephritis and nephrosis in the fibreglass manufacturing industry.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the question of whether there is an association between exposure to silica or respirable glass fibre and mortality from nephritis or nephrosis among workers in fibrous glass wool manufacturing facilities. METHODS: A case-control study with cases and controls derived from the Owens Corning mortality surveillance system. Two case-control analyses were carried out, one where the cases are defined with nephritis or nephrosis as the underlying cause of death and one where cases are defined as those where nephritis or nephrosis is either the underlying or a contributing cause of death. RESULTS: There is no consistent relation between respirable fibres or respirable silica and nephritis or nephrosis when the analysis is based either on underlying cause only or on underlying plus contributing cause of death. None of the sociodemographic variables considered suggests an increased risk when considering both underlying and contributing cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: These data would seem to support the contention that the most accurate picture of renal disease will be gained from the use of all information on the death certificate and not only the underlying cause. For these data, all odds ratios (ORs) for respirable fibres and silica based on both underlying and contributing cause of death are < 1 with the exception of the highest exposure to silica which is slightly > 1 (OR = 1.04). Although these results do not prove that there is no association between nephritis and nephrosis and exposure to fibreglass or silica in the fibreglass manufacturing environment, they do not support the assertion that such an association exists.

Case-Control Studies↗

Dynamics of renal histamine in normal rat kidney and in nephrosis induced by aminonucleoside of puromycin.

Histamine is known to have a profound effect on capillary permeability in nonrenal tissues and this effect is presumably mediated by cyclic (c)AMP. Because in our previous experiments we found that histamine stimulates cAMP accumulation in glomeruli (Torres, V. E., T. E. Northryn, R. M. Edwards, S. V. Shah, and T. P. Dousa. 1978. Modulation of cyclic nucleotides in isolated rat glomeruli. J. Clin. Invest.62: 1334.), we now explored whether this amine is formed in renal tissue, namely in glomeruli, and whether its renal metabolism is altered in experimental nephrosis induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) in rats. In normal rats, histamine content was higher (Delta + 240%) in cortex than in medulla. In glomeruli isolated from renal cortex, histamine content was significantly higher (Delta + 260%) than in tubules. Incubation of isolated glomeruli with l-histidine resulted in a time-dependent increase of histamine content in glomeruli, but no change was found in tubules. The increase in glomerular histamine was blocked by the histidine decarboxylase inhibitor bromocresine. In rats with PA nephrosis induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of PA (15 mg/100 g body wt) urinary excretion of histamine was markedly increased (>Delta + 200%), but control rats did not differ from rats with PA nephrosis in urinary excretions of l-histidine and of creatinine. At the peak of proteinuria (day 9 after injection of PA) the plasma level of histamine was slightly elevated, and plasma histidine slightly decreased in animals that developed PA nephrosis. The content of histamine was markedly higher and the level of histidine was significantly lower in the renal cortex of PA-nephrotic rats as compared with controls; PA-nephrotic and control rats did not differ in the content of histidine and histamine in the liver. In addition, the content of histamine was higher in glomeruli isolated from PA-nephrotic rats; lesser difference was found in cortical tubules. The results further indicate that PA-nephrotic rats have higher content of histamine in the renal cortex, predominently in glomeruli with increased urinary histamine excretion. The elevated renal cortical histamine is not due to higher availability of histamine precursor l-histidine. Results thus show that glomeruli are a major site of intrarenal histamine synthesis and accumulation, and also suggest that abnormal renal metabolism of this amine in PA nephrosis may be related, as a cause or as a consequence, to the pathogenesis of this disease.

Animals↗

Renin-sodium profile in experimental nephrosis induced by puromycin aminonucleoside.

The roles of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and aldosterone in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome were investigated with rats following subcutaneous injections of puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN) for 7 d. Prominent reduction in plasma renin activity (PRA) was observed at day-15 after the initial treatment with PAN preceded by the onset of the nephrosis and there was no significant difference in plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) between the nephrosis and normal control groups despite the higher levels obtained in the nephrosis animals. Although we could not elucidate the precise mechanism of reduction in PRA, it was suggested that neither the RAS nor aldosterone secretion played a primary role in the pathogenesis of the nephrosis. PAN-induced nephrosis is interesting in studying the pathophysiological mechanism of the lowered activity of plasma renin in some patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Animals↗

Nephrin and podocin expression around the onset of puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis.

Decreased expression levels of the glomerular slit membrane proteins, nephrin and podocin, have been reported after the onset of puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) nephrosis. We examined nephrin and podocin expressions prior to the onset of proteinuria of PA nephrosis to elucidate the proteinuria induction mechanism of PA. PA nephrosis was induced by a subcutaneous single injection of 120 mg kg(-1) PA. The mRNA levels of nephrin and podocin in whole kidney total RNA were quantified by the TaqMan real time PCR quantification system. The localization and levels of nephrin and podocin molecules were analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blotting, respectively. Albuminuria and proteinuria were significant on days 3 and 4 in PA nephrosis rats. The protein levels of nephrin and podocin decreased significantly at day 3. The protein localization of nephrin and podocin changed at day 2 and day 1, respectively. The mRNA level of nephrin increased at day 2 and subsequently decreased at day 4. The podocin mRNA level did not change significantly. In conclusions, the protein level of nephrin and podocin decreased at the onset of albuminuria in the PA nephrosis. However, the first change induced by PA was the change of podocin localization from a linear pattern to a dot-like one prior to the onset of albuminuria.

Animals↗

Involvement of tumor necrosis factor and platelet-activating factor in the pathogenesis of experimental nephrosis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The experimental nephrosis induced in rats by adriamycin (ADR) or puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) provide a useful model to study the participation of inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of proteinuria. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We have measured tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) production by glomeruli of rats with nephrosis, as well as the effect of treatment with the PAF antagonist, BN52021. We have also evaluated the in vitro effects of ADR, PA, and PAF on TNF and PAF production, cell viability, and protein synthesis in glomerular mesangial cells and glomerular epithelial cells (GEC) in culture. RESULTS: In ADR nephrosis, the greatest production of PAF was on day 14, preceding maximal proteinuria, whereas the highest levels of TNF where observed on day 21 after ADR injection, the moment at which proteinuria reached maximal levels. In PA nephrosis, glomerular PAF production peaked twice (days 1 and 15), before and after maximal proteinuria (day 11), whereas TNF production peaked from days 2 to 11, and slowly declined until day 21. In both models, treatment with BN52021 induced a striking decrease in proteinuria, as well as a diminution in glomerular TNF and PAF production. Both ADR and PA induced TNF and PAF production in whole glomeruli, glomerular mesangial cells, and GEC in culture. As shown by a 51Cr release assay, ADR and PA were toxic to GEC. This effect was inhibited by PAF antagonists and by anti-TNF antibodies. Whereas TNF was moderately toxic to GEC, PAF had no effect on 51Cr release. TNF toxicity was abolished by anti-TNF antibodies and largely diminished by PAF antagonists. CONCLUSIONS: TNF and PAF may participate in the induction of GEC damage and the development of proteinuria in two experimental models of nephrosis in rats.

Animals↗

Poly-L-lysine-gold probe for the detection of anionic sites in normal glomeruli and in idiopathic and experimentally-induced nephrosis. A comparative ultrastructural study.

Anionic sites play a key role in the charge selectivity of glomerular filtration as well as in the maintenance of the structural integrity of the visceral epithelium and podocytes. Alterations in these sites are believed to be a major factor underlying human idiopathic nephrosis and puromycin-nephrosis in the rat. The poly-L-lysine-gold complex was used for the ultrastructural detection of anionic sites in renal glomeruli of patients with idiopathic nephrosis as well as of rats with puromycin-induced nephrosis, allowing for study of the changes occurring in the anionic sites during nephrosis and for the comparison between human disease and this experimental model. In both normal human and rat controls, the probe was detected on epithelial and endothelial cell surfaces and on the glomerular basement membrane, mainly in both laminae rarae. In proteinuric rats, a decrease in labeling intensity was noted on podocyte membranes and in the lamina rara externa, with a corresponding increase in the more central areas of the glomerular basement membrane. These changes were not as evident in proteinuric humans. Furthermore, a reduction in labeling density was noted in the glomerular basement membrane of proteinuric animals, although this could not be substantiated in human tissues. Poly-L-lysine-gold is a useful probe for anionic sites in fixed tissues, and allows for comparison between human disease and its experimental counterpart.

Adolescent↗

Cyclosporine in the treatment of idiopathic nephrosis.

Within the past decade, there have been numerous reports on the use of cyclosporine in idiopathic nephrosis. In this review, the results of both uncontrolled and controlled studies of the therapeutic effects of cyclosporine in steroid-sensitive/dependent idiopathic nephrosis and in steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrosis are analyzed. Cyclosporine is efficient in up to 80% of patients with steroid-sensitive/dependent idiopathic nephrosis. Most patients, however, relapse when the drug is withdrawn, thus necessitating prolonged treatments. Although cyclosporine is less efficient in patients with steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrosis, a few studies seem to indicate that this drug may be successful in some patients, especially if combined with corticosteroids. There is no evidence that cyclosporine can prevent the recurrence of nephrotic syndrome on the graft after renal transplantation. However, in patients in whom disease has recurred, high doses of cyclosporine may be effective alone or in combination with plasma exchanges. The main worrisome side effect of cyclosporine is chronic nephrotoxicity, which should be differentiated from acute or "functional" toxicity. Follow-up studies including pretreatment and posttreatment renal biopsies show a lack of correlation between structural damage and renal function, suggesting that a histologic examination of the renal parenchyma is the only reliable way of evaluating chronic cyclosporine nephrotoxicity.

Adult↗

Prenatal diagnosis of congenital nephrosis in 23 high-risk families.

The efficacy of maternal serum and amniotic fluid alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) estimation for the prenatal detection of congenital nephrosis was assessed in 23 pregnancies of couples with a previously affected child. At 15 to 18 weeks' gestation, amniotic fluid AFP concentration was elevated in seven of 23 cases, and maternal serum AFP level in five of these. Legal abortion was carried out at 18 to 19 weeks in all those cases where he amniotic fluid AFP concentration was abnormally high, and in all cases the fetus was found to be affected. The diagnosis of intrauterine congenital nephrosis was obvious by electron microscopic examination of the fetal kidney, but not by light microscopy. The child was born without congenital nephrosis in all 16 cases where amniotic fluid AFP level was normal, and in 16 of 18 cases (89%) where maternal serum AFP concentration was normal. Thus, the amniotic fluid AFP assay is more reliable and is recommended whenever congenital nephrosis is suspected on the basis of family history.

Abortion, Legal↗

Frequent relapser minimal change nephrosis: an unrecognized X-linked disorder?

We report three brothers who developed nephrosis between the age of 3-10 years. The parents were nonconsanguineous and of Arab descent. The mother's sister had a son with a similar condition. Patients were steroid responders and frequent relapsers. Renal biopsies in the three brothers showed findings of minimal change nephrosis. This family may suggest the existence of an X-linked recessive nephrosis which provides further evidence for genetic heterogeneity of familial nephrosis.

Biopsy↗

Lipoprotein lipid and protein synthesis in experimental nephrosis and plasmapheresis: II. Perfused rat liver.

Livers from rats with experimental hypoproteinemia induced by aminonucleoside-nephrosis or plasmapheresis were perfused with a [14C]-labeled amino acid mixture at physiological concentration. Compared to control rats, a significantly increased incorporation of the amino acid label was found in the apolipoproteins of the ultracentrifugally separated very low and high density lipoproteins (VLDL, HDL), and into albumin secreted into the perfusate. However, no increase in the amino acid-derived lable was detected in VLDL-or HDL-borne lipids in nephrosis or plasmapheresis. Perfusion with U-[14C]leucine as a lipogenesis precursor at < 10 times higher than physiological concentration resulted in 5-fold increase in the label incorporation into perfusate proteins in nephrosis but only in a slightly significant increase in perfusate lipids. In contrast, the incorporation of a preformed fatty acid, 9,10-[3H] oleate into VLDL and HDL lipids increased 3- to 4-fold in nephrosis. Both with leucine and oleate as precursors, the increments in the label appearing in perfusate proteins or lipids, respectively, were markedly greater than the increases in hepatic tissue proteins or lipids. The results indicate that amino acids are preferentially directed by the liver into the synthesis of circulating apolipoproteins and albumin in hypoproteinemia and do not seem to constitute an important precursor of the liporpotein lipids. The increased production of apolipoproteins is associated with an increased incorporation of preformed fatty acids into lipoprotein lipids in addition to the previously reported stimulation of hepatic de novo lipid synthesis from recursors other than amino acids.

Animals↗