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V E Torres

Publications and source records attributed to V E Torres.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The pck rat: a new model that resembles human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney and liver disease.

BACKGROUND: The pck rat is a recently identified model of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) and liver disease (PLD) that developed spontaneously in the rat strain Crj:CD/SD. Its pattern of inheritance is autosomal recessive. METHODS: To characterize this new model, we studied pck rats derived from F9 breeding pairs from Charles River Japan and control Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood and tissues (kidneys, liver, and pancreas), obtained from these rats at 1, 7, 21, 70, and 182 days of age, were used for biochemical determinations, light and electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The pck rats develop progressive cystic enlargement of the kidneys after the first week of age, and liver cysts are evident by day 1. The renal cysts developed as a focal process from thick ascending loops of Henle, distal tubules, and collecting ducts in the corticomedullary region and outer medulla. Flat and polypoid epithelial hyperplasia were common in dilated tubules and cysts. Apoptosis was common and affected normal, as well as dilated tubules, but less frequently cysts lined by flat epithelium. The basement membranes of the cyst walls exhibited a variety of alterations, including thinning, lamellation, and thickening. Focal interstitial fibrosis and inflammation were evident by 70 days of age. Segmental glomerulosclerosis and segmental thickening of the basement membrane with associated effacement of the podocyte foot processes were noted in some rats at 70 days of age. The PKD was more severe in male than in female pck rats, as reflected by the higher kidney weights, while there was no gender difference in the severity of the PLD. Mild bile duct dilation was present as early as one day of age. With age, it became more severe, and the livers became markedly enlarged. Even then, however, there was only a mild increase in portal fibrosis, without formation of fibrous septae. Slight elevations of plasma blood urea nitrogen levels were detected at 70 and 182 days of age. CONCLUSIONS: The pck rat is a new inherited model of PKD and PLD with a natural history and renal and hepatic histologic abnormalities that resemble human autosomal dominant PKD. This model may be useful for studying the pathogenesis and evaluating the potential therapies for PKD and PLD. The identification of the pck gene may provide further insight into the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant PKD.

Animals↗

Treatment prospects for autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease.

An increased understanding of the molecular genetic and cellular pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the development of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), made possible by the advances in molecular biology and genetics of the last three decades, has laid the foundation for the development of effective therapies. As the concept that a polycystic kidney is a neoplasm in disguise is becoming increasingly accepted, the development of therapies for ADPKD may benefit greatly from the expanding body of information on cancer chemoprevention and chemosuppression. This review summarizes the observations that already have been made and discusses therapies for PKD that deserve investigation.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Long-term ammonium chloride or sodium bicarbonate treatment in two models of polycystic kidney disease.

Administration of ammonium chloride aggravates, while short-term administration of sodium or potassium bicarbonate lessens the development of polycystic kidney disease in Han:SPRD rats. We have conducted studies to determine whether the protection afforded by the administration of sodium bicarbonate is sustained and prevents development of uremia during chronic administration and whether the effects of the administration of ammonium chloride and sodium bicarbonate are also observed in a different model of polycystic kidney disease, the CD1-pcy/pcy mouse. We found that chronic administration of 200 mM sodium bicarbonate to Han:SPRD rats inhibited cystic enlargement and prevented the subsequent development of interstitial inflammation, chronic fibrosis, and uremia. We also found that, while the administration of ammonium chloride has similar effects in Han:SPRD rats and CD1-pcy/pcy mice, the administration of sodium bicarbonate is only protective in the Han:SPRD rats. This probably reflects differences in these models (predominately involvement of proximal tubules in Han:SPRD rats and of collecting ducts and distal tubules in pcy/pcy mice) and the different location and nature of the renal metabolic responses to the administration of acid or alkaline load.

Ammonia↗

Identification of a locus for autosomal dominant polycystic liver disease, on chromosome 19p13.2-13.1.

Polycystic liver disease (PCLD) is characterized by the growth of fluid-filled cysts of biliary epithelial origin in the liver. Although the disease is often asymptomatic, it can, when severe, lead to complications requiring surgical therapy. PCLD is most often associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD); however, families with an isolated polycystic liver phenotype without kidney involvement have been described. The clinical presentation and histological features of polycystic liver disease in the presence or absence of ADPKD are indistinguishable, raising the possibility that the pathogenetic mechanisms in the diseases are interrelated. We ascertained two large families with polycystic liver disease without kidney cysts and performed a genomewide scan for genetic linkage. A causative gene, PCLD, was mapped to chromosome 19p13.2-13.1, with a maximum LOD score of 10.3. Haplotype analysis refined the PCLD interval to 12.5 cM flanked by D19S586/D19S583 and D19S593/D19S579. The discovery of genetic linkage will facilitate diagnosis and study of this underdiagnosed disease entity. Identification of PCLD will be instrumental to an understanding of the pathogenesis of cyst formation in the liver in isolated PCLD and in ADPKD.

Adult↗

Gender-dependent effect of L-NAME on polycystic kidney disease in Han:SPRD rats.

To determine whether the renal nitric oxide (NO) system has a role in the pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in Han:Sprague-Dawley (SPRD) rats, the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), 70 mg/L, or L-arginine, 0.5 g/L, was administered to heterozygous diseased (cy/+) and homozygous normal animals. Urine nitrate and nitrite excretion was reduced by L-NAME treatment and, in the male cy/+ rats, increased by L-arginine administration. The administration of L-NAME significantly increased blood pressure in all groups, whereas L-arginine had no effect. L-NAME and L-arginine had a modest but significant overall effect on the severity of cystic disease in male rats, reflected by relative kidney weights and cyst volume densities. This effect was gender dependent because it was not observed in female animals. The administration of L-NAME resulted in a significant increase in plasma creatinine concentration of the cy/+ rats, which was more marked in male than female animals. These observations support the recently reported gender differences in the renal NO system and a small role for NO synthesis that can be inhibited by L-NAME in the pathogenesis of PKD in Han:SPRD rats. These observations do not exclude a more important role for the endogenous renal NO production in the pathogenesis of PKD in view of a recent report of a major NOS resistant to conventional inhibitors in the rat kidney.

Animals↗

Chronic subdural hematoma in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has been associated with an increased incidence of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hematomas. We describe five patients with chronic subdural hematomas, a previously unrecognized complication of ADPKD. In four of the five cases, no trigger was apparent. Clinical presentation was subtle, with mild hemiparesis, headache, or both in four patients and transient neurological deficits mimicking transient ischemic attacks in one patient. In three of the five patients, a retrocerebellar arachnoid cyst was found, suggesting a plausible causal relation between the intracranial arachnoid cysts and the subdural hematomas. In one patient, subdural hematoma was in close proximity to the frontally located arachnoid cyst.

Aged↗

Matched comparison of radical nephrectomy vs nephron-sparing surgery in patients with unilateral renal cell carcinoma and a normal contralateral kidney.

OBJECTIVE: To report the long-term follow-up of a matched comparison of radical nephrectomy (RN) and nephron-sparing surgery (NSS) in patients with single unilateral renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and a normal contralateral kidney. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 1966 and March 1999, 1492 and 189 patients with unilateral RCC and a normal contralateral kidney underwent RN and NSS, respectively. Patients with renal impairment, previous nephrectomy, bilateral or multiple RCCs, metastasis, and familial cancer syndromes were excluded. A total 164 patients in each cohort were matched according to pathological grade, pathological T stage, size of tumor, age, sex, and year of surgery. The Kaplan-Meier method and stratified Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate and compare overall, cancer-specific, local recurrence-free, and metastasis-free survival and survival free of chronic renal insufficiency. The 2 groups were evaluated for early (< or = 30 days) complications and proteinuria at last follow-up. RESULTS: At last follow-up, 126 RN patients (77%) and 130 NSS patients (79%) were alive with no evidence of disease. There was no significant difference observed between patients who had RN and those who had NSS with respect to overall survival (risk ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52-1.74; P = .88) or cancer-specific survival (risk ratio, 1.33; 95% CI, 0.30-5.95; P = .71). At 10 years, similar rates of contralateral recurrence (0.9% for RN vs 1% for NSS) and metastasis (4.9% for RN vs 4.3% for NSS) were seen in each group, whereas the rate of ipsilateral local recurrence for patients who underwent RN and NSS was 0.8% and 5.4%, respectively (P = .18). There was no significant difference in the early complications between the RN and NSS groups. However, patients who underwent RN had a significantly higher risk for proteinuria as defined by a protein/osmolality ratio of 0.12 or higher (55.2% vs 34.5%; P = .01). At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of chronic renal insufficiency (creatinine > 2.0 mg/dL at least 30 days after surgery) was 22.4% and 11.6%, respectively, for the RN and NSS groups (risk ratio, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.2-11.2; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective study of patients with unilateral RCC and a normal contralateral kidney suggests that NSS is as effective as RN for the treatment of RCC on long-term follow-up. The increased risk of chronic renal insufficiency and proteinuria after RN supports use of NSS.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Identification and characterization of polycystin-2, the PKD2 gene product.

PKD2, the second gene for the autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), encodes a protein, polycystin-2, with predicted structural similarity to cation channel subunits. However, the function of polycystin-2 remains unknown. We used polyclonal antisera specific for the intracellular NH(2) and COOH termini to identify polycystin-2 as an approximately 110-kDa integral membrane glycoprotein. Polycystin-2 from both native tissues and cells in culture is sensitive to Endo H suggesting the continued presence of high-mannose oligosaccharides typical of pre-middle Golgi proteins. Immunofluorescent cell staining of polycystin-2 shows a pattern consistent with localization in the endoplasmic reticulum. This finding is confirmed by co-localization with protein-disulfide isomerase as determined by double indirect immunofluorescence and co-distribution with calnexin in subcellular fractionation studies. Polycystin-2 translation products truncated at or after Gly(821) retain their exclusive endoplasmic reticulum localization while products truncated at or before Glu(787) additionally traffic to the plasma membrane. Truncation mutants that traffic to the plasma membrane acquire Endo H resistance and can be biotinylated on the cell surface in intact cells. The 34-amino acid region Glu(787)-Ser(820), containing two putative phosphorylation sites, is responsible for the exclusive endoplasmic reticulum localization of polycystin-2 and is the site of specific interaction with an as yet unidentified protein binding partner for polycystin-2. The localization of full-length polycystin-2 to intracellular membranes raises the possibility that the PKD2 gene product is a subunit of intracellular channel complexes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Cerebral hemorrhage in recipients of renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: The causes and circumstances of intracerebral hematoma after kidney transplantation have been poorly studied. No data are available on its impact on outcome after a successful renal grafting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used the Mayo Clinic medical diagnostic index to identify the patients with a diagnosis of intracerebral hematoma among the 1573 patients who received a renal transplant at the Mayo Clinic between 1966 and 1998. RESULTS: Ten intracranial hematomas occurred in 9 patients and were the cause of death in 6 (1%) of the 530 patients known to have died. The interval from renal transplantation to intracranial hematoma ranged from 12 to 114 months (average, 57 months). All patients with intracranial hemorrhage had poorly controlled hypertension. Intracranial hematoma was more frequently and significantly associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (4/146 [2.7%]; P<.01) and with diabetes mellitus (3/410 [0.7%]; P<.01) than with other underlying causes of renal failure (2/1017 [0.2%]). CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, the risk of cerebral hemorrhage may have increased 10-fold in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and 4-fold in patients with diabetes mellitus, when compared with the population of patients having other causes of renal failure. Most cerebral hemorrhages were catastrophic and fatal but appeared to be responsible for only 1% of the deaths after renal transplantation.

Aged↗

Cystic fibrosis and the phenotypic expression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Recent experiments in cultured cyst epithelial cells from kidneys of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) have shown that the cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is present in the apical surface of these cells and mediates chloride (Cl-) and fluid secretion in vitro. To determine whether the presence of CF with the expression of mutated CFTR proteins modifies cyst formation in ADPKD, we studied a large family with both inherited diseases. ADPKD in this family is linked to PKD1. The family is composed of 26 members; 11 members with ADPKD, 4 members with CF, and 2 members with both diseases. Renal volumes measured by computerized tomography (CT), calculated creatinine clearances, and other clinical parameters in the family members with ADPKD and CF were compared with those in the family members with ADPKD alone, as well as to a large population of patients with ADPKD. The patients with CF and ADPKD, but not the CF heterozygote carriers with ADPKD, had less severe polycystic kidney and liver disease, as indicated by normal renal function; smaller renal volume, even when corrected for height and body surface area; and the absence of hypertension and liver cysts. These observations suggest that the coexistence of CF may reduce the severity of ADPKD.

Adult↗

Somatic mutation in individual liver cysts supports a two-hit model of cystogenesis in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Type I is a common genetic disorder and an important cause of renal failure. The disease is characterized by progressive cyst formation in a variety of organs including the kidney, liver and pancreas. We have previously shown that in the case of PKD1, renal cyst development is likely to require somatic inactivation of the normal allele coupled to a germline PKD1 mutation. In this report, we have used unique reagents to show that intragenic, somatic mutations are common in hepatic cysts. All pathogenic mutations were shown to have altered the previously normal copy of the gene. These data extend the "two-hit" model of cystogenesis to include a second focal manifestation of the disease.

Base Sequence↗

Renal concentration of alpha-tocopherol: dependence on gender and lack of effect on polycystic kidney disease in Han:SPRD rats.

A gender-associated dimorphism, with males being more severely affected than females, has been observed in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, acquired renal cystic disease, and the renal cystic disease of the Han:SPRD rat. A recent study has suggested that gonadal hormones may be responsible for this dimorphism. Because gonadal hormones have an effect on the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in the liver and adrenal glands and because recent studies indicate that oxidative stress may be important in the pathogenesis of polycystic kidney disease, we wanted to determine whether the renal concentration of alpha-tocopherol is higher in female than in male rats and whether this difference accounts for the gender dimorphism of polycystic kidney disease in Han:SPRD rats. At 3 weeks of age, male and female heterozygous cystic (cy/+) rats were divided into three groups fed a vitamin E-deficient diet or the same diet supplemented with either 65 IU or 10,000 IU alpha-tocopherol/kg laboratory chow. At 8 weeks of age, blood samples and kidneys were obtained for determinations of plasma creatinine and urea, renal concentration of alpha-tocopherol and glutathione, kidney weights, and histomorphometric analysis. Female rats had higher renal concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and less severe renal cystic disease, as reflected by plasma creatinine and urea values, kidney weight corrected by body weight, and histomorphometric analysis, than male rats. The difference in renal alpha-tocopherol concentration, however, could not account for the different severity of the renal cystic disease, because depletion or enrichment of vitamin E in the diet had marked effects on the renal concentration of alpha-tocopherol without affecting the severity of the renal cystic disease. Cy/+ rats had higher renal concentrations of alpha-tocopherol than +/+ animals, possibly reflecting a disturbance of redox metabolism associated with polycystic kidney disease. Renal concentrations of glutathione were unaffected by the vitamin E content of the diet. Although these results do not support the use of vitamin E in the treatment of polycystic kidney disease, observations in the Han:SPRD rat may or may not be relevant to human polycystic kidney disease.

Analysis of Variance↗

New insights into polycystic kidney disease and its treatment.

Major advances in the understanding of the genetics and pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease have occurred within the past year. The proteins encoded by the PKD1 and PKD2 genes, polycystin 1 and polycystin 2, are membrane proteins, capable of interacting physically in vitro, and are likely components of a complex signalling pathway. The majority of PKD1 and PKD2 mutations so far identified are unique inactivating mutations dispersed over the entire genes. Immunohistochemical studies have shown that polycystin 1 and polycystin 2 are developmentally regulated and are overexpressed in polycystic kidneys. The cysts probably result from clonal expansions of single cells. The demonstration of loss of heterozygosity for PKD1 and the absence of immunoreactive polycystin 1 in approximately 20% of the cysts supports a two-hit tumor suppressor gene model of cystogenesis. Regardless of the nature of the initial pathogenic mechanism, the cysts in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease are accompanied by partial dedifferentiation of the epithelial cells, disregulation of epithelial cell proliferation, expression of a secretory phenotype, and disarray of cell matrix interactions which leads to interstitial inflammation and matrix accumulation. Recent observations in animal models of inherited polycystic kidney disease have implicated oxidative stress in its pathogenesis. These downstream pathogenetic events have been targeted for intervention, and an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that the course of polycystic kidney disease in rodents can be altered by environmental and pharmacological interventions. Nevertheless, these experimental observations cannot be extrapolated to human autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. The recent generation of mice with PKD1 or PKD2 targeted mutations will help to bridge this gap.

Animals↗