title: Obstructive renal injury: from fluid mechanics to molecular cell biology.
abstract: Urinary tract obstruction is a frequent cause of renal impairment. The physiopathology of obstructive nephropathy has long been viewed as a mere mechanical problem. However, recent advances in cell and systems biology have disclosed a complex physiopathology involving a high number of molecular mediators of injury that lead to cellular processes of apoptotic cell death, cell injury leading to inflammation and resultant fibrosis. Functional studies in animal models of ureteral obstruction using a variety of techniques that include genetically modified animals have disclosed an important role for the renin-angiotensin system, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and other mediators of inflammation in this process. In addition, high throughput techniques such as proteomics and transcriptomics have identified potential biomarkers that may guide clinical decision-making.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Fundación Renal Iñigo Alvarez de Toledo, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alvaro C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ucero
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benito-Martin
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Santamaría
authors.forename: Adrian M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Berzal
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Ortega
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Egido
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ortiz
keywords: fluid mechanics; molecular cell biology; renal injury; urinary tract obstruction