Emerging roles for eicosanoids in renal diseases.
OBJECTIVE
Eicosanoids are products of arachidonic acid metabolism which have important roles in renal homeostasis and disease. In recent years the development of genetically modified animals and new drugs targeting eicosanoids producing enzymes and receptors has unveiled new roles for eicosanoids in kidney function. This review provides an overview of eicosanoid biosynthesis and receptors and discusses recent findings on their role in acute and chronic renal diseases and in renal transplantation.


RESULTS
Products of the cyclooxygenases, 5-lipoxygenase, and cytochrome P450 pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism act through distinct receptors presented at different segment of the nephron. Apart from its role in renal physiology and hemodynamic, eicosanoids actively participate in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic renal diseases and have immunoregulatory role in kidney transplantation.


CONCLUSIONS
The new discoveries on the role of eicosanoids in kidney functions and the development of drugs targeting eicosanoids synthesis or action should help to envisage novel therapeutic approaches for patients suffering from renal diseases.
Câmara
Niels O S
NO
Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Martins
Joilson O
JO
Landgraf
Richardt G
RG
Jancar
Sonia
S
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000502:physiology
D015777:Eicosanoids