Study Provides Insights on Enzyme That Helps Direct Immune Response in Acute Kidney Injury

An enzyme called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) known to be important in the body's response to kidney injury exerts its protective effects, in part, by affecting the immune system.

An enzyme called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) known to be important in the body's response to kidney injury exerts its protective effects, in part, by affecting the immune system, revealed to a study by researchers at University of Alabama, Birmingham. These findings could lead to new treatments for patients with acute kidney injury (AKI).

AKI is an abrupt decline in kidney function that often arises after major surgeries or severe infections, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known to be important in the body's protective response to AKI. Lead researcher Dr. Anupam Agarwal said, "This pre-clinical study more completely defines the cellular compartments through which HO-1 exerts its protective effects in AKI, thus paving the way for the development of targeted novel therapeutic strategies aimed at preventing the significant morbidity and mortality caused by AKI in patients. More importantly, our studies discovered that the absence of HO-1 in myeloid cells had a dramatic effect on recovery after AKI, suggesting that HO-1 could be an important target in preventing the transition of AKI to chronic kidney disease."

World Kidney Day 2013 - Kidneys for Life: Stop Kidney Attack
The eighth World Kidney Day focuses on Acute Kidney Injury, a common life threatening condition.

The study is published in the 'Journal of the American Society of Nephrology' (JASN).

Source-Medindia

Acute Kidney Injury Treated With a Mood Stabilizing Drug
A new study found how acute kidney injury may now be treated with a mood stabilizing drug

Higher Intensity Renal Replacement Therapy Not Beneficial for Acute Kidney Injury Patients
Patients with acute kidney injury in an intensive care unit requiring renal replacement therapy do not benefit from higher intensity RRT, revealed a study by Martin Gallagher and colleagues.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Acute Kidney Injury Each a Risk of the Other
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and Acute kidney injury (AKI) are closely intertwined, with each disease a risk factor for developing the other and sharing other risk factors in common, as well as sharing causes for the diseases to get worse and outcomes.