title: Hypokalemic nephropathy is associated with impaired angiogenesis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand. sirirt_a@kku.ac.th
authors.forename: Sirirat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reungjui
authors.forename: Carlos A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Roncal
authors.forename: Waichi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Olena Y
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Glushakova
authors.forename: Byron P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Croker
authors.forename: Shin-Ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suga
authors.forename: Xiaosen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ouyang
authors.forename: Kriang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tungsanga
authors.forename: Takahiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mu
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine; D011188:Potassium