Blocked kidneys in newborn infants can repair themselves after the obstruction is removed, revealed scientists in a study seeking to regrow damaged organs. The study offers insights into how this happens and could also assist doctors to regenerate kidneys in adults.
The new research, from the University of Virginia School of Medicine, looked at the effects of surgically removing kidney blockages in newborn mice, but the findings likely speak to the importance of speedy surgical intervention after the birth of human babies as well, said researcher Maria Luisa S. Sequeira-Lopez, MD, of UVA's Child Health Research Center.
Vesicoureteric Reflux and Reflux Nephropathy
Reflux nephropathy is the scarring and damage caused to the kidneys by reverse flow of urine from the bladder (reflux) via the ureters back into the kidneys.
Advertisement
‘Obstructive nephropathy in infants results in the obstruction of the urinary tract that leads to the failure of kidneys.’
Tweet it Now
She described a strange phenomenon seen in blocked kidneys: "When you obstruct the kidney and you keep it obstructed, its vasculature shrinks, but the other unobstructed kidney grows many more branches, like it's trying to compensate," she said. "If you release the obstruction, then the vasculature [vessels] of the previously obstructed kidney regenerates and grows dramatically initiating the regeneration of the whole kidney.
Preventing Kidney Damage
There are many reasons why a baby might be born with obstructed kidneys, known as "obstructive nephropathy." For example, the urinary tract might not be fully developed, or there could be a mass compressing it. That can cause serious problems, including kidney failure.
![Breathing Dirty Air may Lead to Kidney Failure]( "Breathing Dirty Air may Lead to Kidney Failure")
Breathing in unclean air due to increasing air pollution could cause kidney damage with resultant kidney failure according to a recent epidemiologic study.
UVA's new research sheds light on exactly how kidney obstruction causes damage, and that will better position doctors to combat it.
"In our study, we tried to understand what happens when the kidney is damaged and what happens when the kidneys are undergoing repair," said researcher Vidya K. Nagalakshmi, PhD. "When [the urinary tract] is blocked, it gives a backward pressure to the kidney and causes swelling of the kidney, which is called hydronephrosis. The kidney is swollen and filled with fluid, and when the hydronephrosis happens, all the nephron tubules become damaged and eventually they are lost. And if the hydronephrosis persists for a longer time, then it leads to end-stage renal disease."
The researchers were surprised at how quickly and effectively the newborn mice's damaged kidneys could repair themselves. They identified "precursor cells" that play critical roles in that process, and they hope to harness the human version of the cells to perform similar kidney repairs in both children and adults.
"During development, there are more precursors than otherwise," Sequeira-Lopez said. "Studying the developing kidney or the early postnatal kidney may give us cues of how to push the precursors or how to wake up precursors in the adult to regenerate and maintain the kidney function."
"Moving forward, we want to focus on how the vasculature regenerates ... because it's very, very important to know all the mechanisms of cellular and molecular changes that are happening," she said. "It is not only relevant for this congenital nephropathy model alone [but] it could be applied for all kidney disease."
The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Clinical Science.
Source: Eurekalert
There are many reasons why a baby might be born with obstructed kidneys, known as "obstructive nephropathy." For example, the urinary tract might not be fully developed, or there could be a mass compressing it. That can cause serious problems, including kidney failure.
Breathing Dirty Air may Lead to Kidney Failure
Breathing in unclean air due to increasing air pollution could cause kidney damage with resultant kidney failure according to a recent epidemiologic study.
Advertisement
UVA's new research sheds light on exactly how kidney obstruction causes damage, and that will better position doctors to combat it.
"In our study, we tried to understand what happens when the kidney is damaged and what happens when the kidneys are undergoing repair," said researcher Vidya K. Nagalakshmi, PhD. "When [the urinary tract] is blocked, it gives a backward pressure to the kidney and causes swelling of the kidney, which is called hydronephrosis. The kidney is swollen and filled with fluid, and when the hydronephrosis happens, all the nephron tubules become damaged and eventually they are lost. And if the hydronephrosis persists for a longer time, then it leads to end-stage renal disease."
The researchers were surprised at how quickly and effectively the newborn mice's damaged kidneys could repair themselves. They identified "precursor cells" that play critical roles in that process, and they hope to harness the human version of the cells to perform similar kidney repairs in both children and adults.
"During development, there are more precursors than otherwise," Sequeira-Lopez said. "Studying the developing kidney or the early postnatal kidney may give us cues of how to push the precursors or how to wake up precursors in the adult to regenerate and maintain the kidney function."
"Moving forward, we want to focus on how the vasculature regenerates ... because it's very, very important to know all the mechanisms of cellular and molecular changes that are happening," she said. "It is not only relevant for this congenital nephropathy model alone [but] it could be applied for all kidney disease."
The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Clinical Science.
Source: Eurekalert
Kidney Failure due to Melamine Toxicity
Adulteration of food with melamine results in the formation of kidney stones and kidney failure, even leading to death.
Advertisement
 Chronic Renal FailureChronic renal failure or chronic kidney disease is progressive loss in kidney function. The change is irreversible and is due to loss of nephrons of the kidney. | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Latest Child Health News
What precautions should be taken after vaccination in newborn? Check out some essential dos and don'ts of vaccinating to make informed decisions about their health.
Virtual reality-based imaging system provides crucial information to understand dynamics of brain network linked to behavioral abnormality of autism.
Doctors have reported that children have been hit hard by the recent increase in flu cases, with the H3N2 virus being a significant contributing factor.
Men and women are impacted uniquely by childhood trauma: emotional trauma and sexual abuse impact women, while emotional and physical neglect impact men.
Bedsharing with infants is linked to increased duration of breastfeeding, according to the night-time feeding guidelines.