NRF2 and NF-κB mRNA expression in chronic kidney disease: a focus on nondialysis patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) mRNA expression in nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, comparing with data from hemodialysis (HD) patients and healthy individuals.


METHODS
Twenty nondialysis CKD patients (62.0 ± 8.1 years old, 11 men, estimated glomerular filtration rate of 36.8 ± 13.6 mL/min/1.73 m(2)), twenty HD patients (55.0 ± 15.2 years old, 13 men, and dialysis vintage of 76.5 ± 46.3 months) and eleven healthy individuals (50.9 ± 8.0 years old, 6 men) were enrolled in the study. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and processed for the evaluation of expression of NF-κB and Nrf2 by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
Nrf2 mRNA expression was significantly higher in nondialysis (1.12 ± 0.57) when compared to HD patients (0.58 ± 0.35, p = 0,006) but similar to healthy individuals (1.13 ± 0.64). Inversely, NF-κB mRNA expression was lower in nondialysis (1.21 ± 0.71) when compared to HD patients (2.08 ± 0.7, p < 0.0001) and similar to healthy individuals (1.04 ± 0.22). Nrf2 mRNA was positively correlated with NF-κB mRNA expression in nondialysis CKD patients (r = 0.52, p = 0.02) and healthy individuals (r = 0.77, p < 0.006). By contrast, Nrf2 mRNA was inversely correlated with NF-κB mRNA expression (r = -0.65, p = 0.003) in HD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Nondialysis CKD patients may conserve regular homeostatic balance between Nrf2 and NF-κB expressions, being comparable to healthy individuals. However, HD patients seem to have Nrf2 downregulation and NF-κB upregulation. Thus, the association among Nrf2 and NF-κB expressions and nutritional status, kidney disease progression or immune deregulation deserve further investigation.
Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Rua Marques do Paraná, 303. Prédio Anexo, 6º andar., Niterói, RJ, 24033-900, Brazil. vivianeoleal@yahoo.com.br.
Viviane O
VO
Leal
Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Juliana F
JF
Saldanha
Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Rua Marques do Paraná, 303. Prédio Anexo, 6º andar., Niterói, RJ, 24033-900, Brazil.
Milena B
MB
Stockler-Pinto
Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Rua Marques do Paraná, 303. Prédio Anexo, 6º andar., Niterói, RJ, 24033-900, Brazil.
Ludmila F M F
LF
Cardozo
Lagoa Hospital, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Felipe R
FR
Santos
Division of Nephrology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Alex S D
AS
Albuquerque
Division of Nephrology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Maurilo
M
Leite
Graduate Program in Cardiovascular Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Rua Marques do Paraná, 303. Prédio Anexo, 6º andar., Niterói, RJ, 24033-900, Brazil.|Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal Fluminense University (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
Denise
D
Mafra
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; D016328:NF-kappa B; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003404:Creatinine
Chronic kidney disease; Inflammation; NF-κB; Nrf2