title: Evidence Suggesting a Role of Iron in a Mouse Model of Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis.
abstract: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis is associated with gadolinium contrast exposure in patients with reduced kidney function and carries high morbidity and mortality. We have previously demonstrated that gadolinium contrast agents induce in vivo systemic iron mobilization and in vitro differentiation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells into ferroportin (iron exporter)-expressing fibrocytic cells. In the present study we examined the role of iron in a mouse model of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Chronic kidney disease was induced in 8-week-old male Balb/C mice with a two-step 5/6 nephrectomy surgery. Five groups of mice were studied: control (n = 5), sham surgery control (n = 5), chronic kidney disease control (n = 4), chronic kidney disease injected with 0.5 mmol/kg body weight of Omniscan 3 days per week, for a total of 10 injections (n = 8), and chronic kidney disease with Omniscan plus deferiprone, 125 mg/kg, in drinking water (n = 9). Deferiprone was continued for 16 weeks until the end of the experiment. Mice with chronic kidney disease injected with Omniscan developed skin changes characteristic of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis including hair loss, reddening, ulceration, and skin tightening by 10 to 16 weeks. Histopathological sections demonstrated dermal fibrosis with increased skin thickness (0.25±0.06 mm, sham; 0.34±+0.3 mm, Omniscan-injected). Additionally, we observed an increase in tissue infiltration of ferroportin-expressing, fibrocyte-like cells accompanied by tissue iron accumulation in the skin of the Omniscan-treated mice. The deferiprone-treated group had significantly decreased skin thickness (p<0.05) and significantly decreased dermal fibrosis compared to the Omniscan-only group. In addition, iron chelation prevented tissue infiltration of ferroportin-expressing, fibrocyte-like cells. Our in vitro experiments demonstrated that exposure to Omniscan resulted in the release of catalytic iron and this was prevented by the iron chelator deferiprone. Deferiprone inhibited the differentiation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells into ferroportin-expressing cells by immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis. Our studies support an important role of iron in the pathophysiology of gadolinium chelate toxicity and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.
authors: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Renal Section, Medicine Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Chhanda
authors: C
authors: Bose
authors: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Renal Section, Medicine Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Judit K
authors: JK
authors: Megyesi
authors: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Renal Section, Medicine Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Sudhir V
authors: SV
authors: Shah
authors: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Dermatology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Kim M
authors: KM
authors: Hiatt
authors: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Kimberly A
authors: KA
authors: Hall
authors: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Renal Section, Medicine Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Oleg
authors: O
authors: Karaduta
authors: Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Renal Section, Medicine Service, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America.
authors: Sundararaman
authors: S
authors: Swaminathan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077543:Deferiprone; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005682:Gadolinium / Q000009:adverse effects; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D054989:Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011728:Pyridones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D011728:Pyridones; D000077543:Deferiprone; C064925:gadodiamide; D005682:Gadolinium; D007501:Iron; D019786:Gadolinium DTPA