New insights into therapeutic strategies for the treatment of peritoneal fibrosis: learning from histochemical analyses of animal models.
Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a fatal complication that can occur in patients undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis. It is characterized by bowel obstruction and marked sclerotic thickening of the peritoneal membrane. Although the mechanisms underlying the development of EPS are complex, angiogenesis, inflammation, and peritoneal fibrosis are known to be essential factors. Now, several animal models that exhibit EPS have pathophysiology similar to that of human EPS and have been proposed for use in research to provide insights into it. Recent histochemical methods also help us to understand the pathophysiology of EPS. Advances in basic research based on the findings in those animal models have enabled the development of several strategies for the prevention and treatment of EPS. We describe here interventional studies in some animal models for peritoneal fibrosis, one of the histological disorders findings characteristic to EPS, and we highlight the need for a sophisticated animal model that closely resembles human conditions.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine , 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Mineaki
M
Kitamura
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine , 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Tomoya
T
Nishino
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine , 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan ; Medical Education Development Center, Nagasaki University Hospital , 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Yoko
Y
Obata
Department of General Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Yoshiyuki
Y
Ozono
Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Takehiko
T
Koji
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine , 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Japan.
Shigeru
S
Kohno
angiogenesis; encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis; inflammation; peritoneal dialysis; peritoneal fibrosis