Hypokalemic nephropathy is associated with impaired angiogenesis.
Hypokalemic nephropathy is associated with alterations in intrarenal vasoactive substances, leading to vasoconstriction, salt-sensitivity, and progression of interstitial fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether hypokalemic nephropathy might also involve impaired renal angiogenesis. Sprague-Dawley rats that were fed low-potassium diets developed peritubular capillary loss that began in the inner stripe of the outer medulla (week 2) and progressed to the outer stripe of the outer medulla (week 4) and cortex (week 12). These changes were associated with increased macrophage infiltration, increased expression of both monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and TNF-alpha, and a loss of vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Renal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, markers of oxidative stress, were increased late in disease. In conclusion, hypokalemic nephropathy is associated with impaired renal angiogenesis, evidenced by progressive capillary loss, reduced endothelial cell proliferation, and loss of VEGF expression.
Reungjui
Sirirat
S
Division of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. sirirt_a@kku.ac.th
Roncal
Carlos A
CA
Sato
Waichi
W
Glushakova
Olena Y
OY
Croker
Byron P
BP
Suga
Shin-Ichi
S
Ouyang
Xiaosen
X
Tungsanga
Kriang
K
Nakagawa
Takahiko
T
Johnson
Richard J
RJ
Mu
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006984:Hypertrophy; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic; D009929:Organ Size; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D003404:Creatinine; D011188:Potassium