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L Hernando

Publications and source records attributed to L Hernando.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Evidence suggesting a role for platelet-activating factor (PAF) in experimental nephrotic syndrome.

Sprague-Dawley rats injected with a single dose of adriamycin at 7.5 mg/kg/day developed an important and persistent proteinuria from day 14. Animals treated from day 0 to 3 weeks with PAF-receptor antagonists (BN 52021 or alprazolam) did not present (p less than 0.0005) the adriamycin-induced proteinuria or only to a very low extent. Furthermore, epithelial glomerular cells presented in these animals a normal aspect, while in rats injected with adriamycin, but not treated, the epithelial cells showed effacement of foot processes and intensive degenerative changes. By contrast, rats treated with steroids or cyclosporin did not present a significant reduction in proteinuria or improvements in epithelial cell lesions. Rats injected with adriamycin also presented an increase in the number of inflammatory infiltrating cells, chiefly la(+)-reactive cells (OX6+ cells), macrophages (ED1+ cells) and T-cytotoxic/suppressor cells (OX8+ cells). Concomitant administration of PAF-receptor antagonists induced a significant reduction in the number of these cells. Glomerular cells from normal control rats incubated with adriamycin incorporated 3H-acetate into a polar lipid with biological and migratory characteristics on thin-layer chromatography similar to synthetic PAF. On the whole, our data suggest a role for PAF in the pathogenesis of experimental nephrotic syndrome induced by adriamycin.

Acetates↗

[New immunopathogenic aspects of IgA nephropathy].

IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) has become recognized worldwide as one of the most common of the primary glomerulonephritis. The mesangial granular deposits suggested an immune complex disease. The available data evidence that the IgA circulating immune complexes in these patients are heterogeneous. Recent analysis, performed after dissociating the complexes, found both IgA1 and IgG. In fact, high serum levels of IgA rheumatoid factor and shared antibody idiotypes were found in a large proportion of those patients. A close relationship was noted between the presence of cross-reactive idiotypes on mesangial immunoglobulins and the existence of increase levels of serum idiotypes and many patients have increased rates of IgA synthesis either spontaneously or after stimulation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells by various mitogens. A lot of abnormalities on B and T lymphocytes, related with the IgA immune regulation, have been described. Most of deposited IgA in the mesangium is polymeric and belongs to the IgA1 class. Patients with IgA nephropathy have very often antibodies against exogenous and endogenous antigens. Among the most frequently found are the antibodies against dietary, viral and bacterial antigens as well as against the Fc and Fab portions of immunoglobulins, nuclear and glomerular antigens. The mechanisms of mesangial damage in IgA nephropathy are not well known. Mesangial cells are capable of producing and releasing various lipidic and proteic mediators. The stimulation of mesangial cells, cultured in vitro by IgA or IgG immune complexes induced the release of PAF, PGE2 and superoxide anion. A better knowledge of the mechanism implicated in the abnormality of IgA immune regulation, as well as of the glomerular inflammation response could afford a new therapeutic approach to this nephropathy.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗

Actions of cyclosporin A on cultured rat mesangial cells.

The effects of cyclosporin A (CsA) on planar surface area of cultured rat mesangial cells (PCSA) and cross-sectional area of isolated rat glomeruli (GCSA) were tested. The same experiments were performed after preincubation with platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonists (BN 52021, alprazolam) or calcium channel blockers (verapamil). Areas of cells or glomeruli were analyzed by a computer-assisted method. CsA reduced PCSA in a time-dependent (significant effects began at 15 min, about 12% of reduction with 10(-6) M CsA) and dose-dependent (no effect at 10(-9) M CsA, maximal reduction of about 30% at 60 min of incubation with 10(-7) M CsA) fashion. BN 52021 (5.10(-5) M) and alprazolam (10(-5) M) completely inhibited the reduction of mesangial cell area induced by CsA. Verapamil (10(-5) M) only partially inhibited this action. Glomerular cross-sectional area decreased after 30 minutes of incubation with 10(-6) M CsA (1.45 +/- 0.02 vs. 1.55 +/- 0.02 m2.10(-8), P less than 0.001), an effect that was inhibited by BN 52021 or verapamil. In addition, 10(-6) M CsA increased PAF production by isolated rat glomeruli (425 +/- 80 pg/mg vs. 198 +/- 13 pg/mg in control glomeruli, P less than 0.01), an effect which was not inhibited by verapamil. These results suggest that CsA could reduce GFR by decreasing the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient, perhaps as a consequence of the contraction of mesangial cells. PAF seems to play a pivotal role in the genesis of this action.

Animals↗

Interstitial mononuclear cell infiltrates in experimental nephrosis: effect of PAF antagonist.

Rats receiving a single injection of either aminonucleoside of puromycin (PAN, 10 mg/100 g) or Adriamycin (ADR, 7.5 mg/kg) develop heavy proteinuria and tubulointerstitial nephritis. Interstitial mononuclear cells were markedly more intense in PAN- than in ADR-treated rats. The composition of cell infiltrates was characterised in frozen kidney sections using an immunoperoxidase staining method and a panel of specific monoclonal antibodies. The severe mixed cellular lesions observed in the PAN model on day 14 were dominated by ED1+ macrophages, OX6+ Ia-interstitial and OX8+ T-cytotoxic/suppressor cell surface markers. A similar but more discrete ADR-interstitial cell accumulation was observed on day 11 of the experiment. A correlation existed in the PAN model between the severity of interstitial nephritis and the degree of proteinuria. In contrast, there was no such correlation in ADR nephrosis. Administration of PAF antagonist (BN 52021), started on the first day and continued throughout the 4 weeks of the experiment, induced in both ADR and PAN-treated rats a partial reduction in the number of interstitial cell infiltrates. Glomeruli from normal control rats incubated with 3H acetate, substrate for lyso-PAF: acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase and ADR stimulated PAF generation. Although the precise mechanism of interstitial cell accumulation in these two models of nephrosis are still unknown, our results suggest that PAF could be an important factor involved in interstitial cell recruitment.

Acetates↗

Characterization of circulating idiotypes containing immune complexes and their presence in the glomerular mesangium in patients with IgA nephropathy.

The possible pathogenic role for idiotype-anti-idiotype interactions in kidney diseases has recently been suggested. Since patients with IgA nephropathy often present antibodies against alimentary antigens, like bovine serum albumin (BSA), we isolated an idiotypic antibody with BSA specificity from one of these patients. By means of a specific anti-idiotypic antibody raised in rabbits, we have studied the participation of these idiotypes in circulating and renal deposited immune complexes (IC) in patients with IgA nephropathy. On indirect immunofluorescence, the presence of cross-reactive idiotypes was detected in the glomeruli of 12 out of 42 (28%) patients with IgA nephropathy, but in none of 15 membranous or mesangiocapillary nephritis examined. The staining was located within mesangial and paramesangial areas, with a similar, but less intensive, pattern distribution than IgA. Previous adsorption of rabbit anti-idiotype antibodies on an idiotype-Sepharose column completely abolished that staining. A close relationship was found between the presence of cross-reactive idiotypes on mesangial immunoglobulins and the existence of increased levels of serum idiotypes and idiotype-containing IC. Serum analytical ultracentrifugation showed that circulating IC containing idiotypes have chiefly a large (greater than 19 S) and intermediate (13 S-19 S) size, while those containing anti-BSA antibodies were only between 7 S-13 S fractions, or absent. Our results suggest that in patients with IgA nephropathy, shared idiotypes participate in the formation of circulating and renal deposited IC. It is possible that the apposition of free anti-idiotype to idiotype already bound to glomeruli, and vice versa, could contribute to increasing the amount and size of mesangial immune deposits, and, therefore, facilitate or perpetuate tissue injury.

Adult↗

Absence of an endogenous regulator of Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the tissues of cirrhotic rats.

Microsomal Na+,K+-ATPase isolated from the renal cortex of rats with CCL4-induced cirrhosis (CIR) showed a higher specific activity than the enzyme obtained from control rats (COR). Kinetic studies showed a lower K0.5 for ATP (0.08 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.24 +/- 0.04 mM; p less than 0.05), a lower Na+ activation constant (9.6 +/- 1.5 vs. 19.0 +/- 1.7 mM; p less than 0.05), and a higher K+ activation constant (1.2 +/- 0.1 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.1 mM; p less than 0.05) for CIR. The optimal pH of the enzyme was 0.5 units higher in CIR than COR. The fluorescence of eosin-treated enzymes indicated a higher ratio of E1/E2 forms of Na+,K+-ATPase in CIR. The K+-activated p-nitrophenylphosphatase (pNPPase) activity of the enzyme was lower in CIR than COR rats (1.5 +/- 0.1 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.1 mU/mg; p less than 0.05). Dialysing (24 h) COR microsomes reproduced most of the changes observed in CIR enzymes (kinetics, optimal pH, and eosin fluorescence). Lyophilized dialysate of COR, but not of CIR microsomes, inhibits Na+,K+-ATPase activity. These results suggest that a dialysable inhibitor modifies the Na+,K+-ATPase activity in the kidney of COR which is almost absent in that of CIR. The absence of this factor may lead to the overall inability to excrete Na+ in the cirrhotic state.

Animals↗

Urinary excretion and glomerular synthesis of prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin F2 alpha in cirrhotic, non-ascitic rats: the effects of sodium overload.

The urinary excretion of aldosterone, kallikrein and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) was studied in sodium-retaining (RC) and nonretaining (NRC), nonascitic cirrhotic rats, under basal conditions and after an oral sodium load (5 mmol). The glomerular synthesis of PGE2 was measured in RC rats under the same conditions. Both groups of cirrhotic animals showed a decreased urinary excretion of PGE2. Isolated glomeruli of RC rats produced less PGE2 than those of the control animals, both under basal conditions and after the sodium load. The NRC group was the only one able to increase the urinary excretion of kallikrein in response to the sodium load. These findings could contribute to explain the early physiopathological events of hepatic cirrhosis.

Aldosterone↗

Haemodynamic effects of angiotensin II in conscious, non-ascitic cirrhotic rats.

The effect of angiotensin II (AII) on systemic and regional haemodynamics was studied in 18 control and 18 cirrhotic, non-ascitic conscious rats (CCl4/phenobarbital model). Cirrhotic rats were found to retain sodium and to have normal plasma renin and plasma aldosterone concentrations when compared with control animals. Cirrhotic rats showed an enhanced cardiac output (34.4 +/- 0.5 vs. 27.5 +/- 2.0 ml/min in controls) and decreased peripheral resistances (2.96 +/- 0.25 vs. 3.95 +/- 0.31 mm Hg/min/100 g/ml in controls) under basal conditions. When AII was administered cardiac output decreased by 10.7 +/- 1.2% in cirrhotic rats, whereas it increased in control animals (11.2 +/- 2%, p less than 0.005). The AII-induced increase in arterial pressure was lower in cirrhotic than in control rats. The renal blood supply was particularly impaired by AII in cirrhotics, with a maintained flow to other organs (muscle, testes). It is concluded that the response to AII is disturbed in rats with hepatic cirrhosis even in a stage without ascites and with plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations similar to those of control animals.

Aldosterone↗

Role of platelet-activating factor in adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats.

The effect of steroids, heparin and specific PAF-acether antagonists (BN 52021 and triazolobenzodiazepines) on proteinuria and renal histological changes induced in rats by adriamycin was studied. Adriamycin evoked a marked proteinuria that was unaffected by methylprednisolone and slightly reduced by heparin. In contrast, adriamycin-injected rats treated with PAF-acether antagonists had a low proteinuria, if any, and no ultrastructural glomerular alterations. These data suggest that PAF-acether could play a major role in the occurrence of proteinuria and that PAF-acether antagonists might provide a new therapeutic approach in certain human nephropathies.

Animals↗

Increased levels of platelet-activating factor in blood from patients with cirrhosis of the liver.

The levels of platelet-activating factor (paf-acether) were measured in blood and ascitic fluid from cirrhotic patients and in blood from a group of controls, using a recently described technique for extraction and measurement. In addition, activity of acetylhydrolase, the main catabolic enzyme for paf-acether, was also measured. The highest levels of paf-acether in blood were found in decompensated cirrhotics (1.78 +/- 0.62 ng ml-1; mean +/- SD, n = 8). Compensated cirrhotics showed lower blood values (0.79 +/- 0.21, n = 4), but higher than controls (0.20 +/- 0.04, n = 12). Paf-acether levels in ascitic fluid were similar to those of blood. Values of acetylhydrolase in serum were similar in all the groups studied (3.0 +/- 0.4 in cirrhotics vs. 2.3 +/- 0.4 nmol min-1 mg-1 of protein in controls). These data suggest an enhanced production of paf-acether in cirrhotic patients rather than a decreased catabolism. High levels of paf-acether in blood could be involved in the impaired haemodynamics of cirrhotic patients and in their renal function alterations.

Adult↗

Changes in glomerular cross-sectional area induced by platelet activating factor.

Isolated glomeruli from normal rats were incubated with platelet-activating factor 10(-6) M at variable incubation times (8, 15, 30 and 45 min) and with different concentrations (0 to 10(-6) M) for 20 min. In addition, the platelet-activating factor effect (10(-6) or 10(-8) M, 20 min) was tested in the presence of BN-52021 (10 or 50 micrograms/ml), verapamil (10(-5) M), acetylsalicylate of lysine (10(-3) M), and in a free-calcium media with EGTA 2 mM. Glomerular microphotographs were taken before and 20 min after adding the substances, and glomerular cross-sectional area was measured using a computerised technique. Platelet-activating factor induced a significant time-dependent reduction in glomerular cross-sectional area, from a concentration of 10(-8) M. BN-52021, verapamil, and the free-calcium media inhibited platelet-activating factor-induced reduction of glomerular cross-sectional area, but acetylsalicylate of lysine did not. Platelet-activating factor-induced reduction in glomerular cross-sectional area seems to be dependent on the interaction of platelet-activating factor with a specific glomerular receptor, with a subsequent modification of the intracellular concentration of calcium. Arachidonic acid metabolites from the cyclo-oxygenase pathway do not seem to be involved in these phenomena. Results suggest that platelet-activating factor could modulate glomerular filtration rate not only by inducing changes in systemic or intrarenal haemodynamics, but also by modifying the filtration surface, thus reducing the Kf.

Animals↗

Effect of chronic and progressive hepatic outflow blockade on renal function in rats.

Systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics, plasma concentration, and urinary excretion of several hormones and the changes in renal function induced by saline infusion were studied in rats with a chronic and progressive model of postsinusoidal hypertension by hepatic vein ligation (HVL) and in a control group. HVL rats showed no differences in systemic hemodynamics compared with control rats, with the exception of decreased renal blood flow and increased renal vascular resistance. HVL rats showed increased portal and intrahepatic pressure, without other differences in splanchnic hemodynamics or in portal-systemic shunts. Clearance studies revealed that under basal conditions, HVL rats showed lower glomerular filtration rate, renal plasma flow, urinary flow, and sodium, chloride, and potassium excretion than control rats. After saline infusion (3% body weight, 15 ml/hr) differences in glomerular filtration rate became nonsignificant, but urinary flow and electrolyte excretion remained lower in HVL than in control rats. Under basal conditions, plasma norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations were higher and urinary prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and prostaglandin F2 alpha levels were lower in HVL than in control animals. These results demonstrate that chronic and progressive hepatic congestion results in impaired renal function with decreased water and electrolyte excretion, and suggest the involvement of a hepatorenal sympathetic reflex in these alterations. Renal effects could also be mediated by the low levels of PGE.

Animals↗