Immune Mechanisms and Novel Pharmacological Therapies of Acute Kidney Injury

Title: Immune Mechanisms and Novel Pharmacological Therapies of Acute Kidney Injury

Volume: 10 Issue: 12

Author(s): Amandeep Bajwa, Gilbert R. Kinsey and Mark D. Okusa

Affiliation:

Keywords: Acute renal failure, ischemia-reperfusion injury, cisplatin, inflammation

Abstract: Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) and both innate and adaptive immunity contribute to the pathogenesis. Kidney resident cells promote inflammation after IRI by increasing endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression and vascular permeability. Kidney epithelial cells bind complement and express tolllike receptors and resident and infiltrating cells produce cytokines/chemokines. Early activation of kidney dendritic cells (DCs) initiates a cascade of events leading to accumulation of interferon-γ-producing neutrophils, infiltrating macrophages, CD4+ T cells, B cells and invariant natural killer T (NKT) cells. Recent studies from our laboratory now implicate the IL23/IL17 pathway in kidney IRI. Following the initial early phase of inflammation, the late phase involves infiltration of anti-inflammatory cells including regulatory T cells, alternatively activated macrophages and stem cells leading to attenuation of inflammation and initiation of repair. Based upon these immune mechanisms of injury, recent studies hold promise for novel drug therapies. These pharmacological agents have been shown to reduce inflammation or cytotoxicity in rodent models of AKI and some show early promise in clinical trials. This review summarizes recent advances to further our understanding of the immune mechanisms of AKI and potential pharmacological therapies.

Cite this article as:

Bajwa Amandeep, Kinsey R. Gilbert and Okusa D. Mark, Immune Mechanisms and Novel Pharmacological Therapies of Acute Kidney Injury, Current Drug Targets 2009; 10 (12) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138945009789753174