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NSAIDs May Increase Kidney Disease Risk for Hypertensive Patients

A study from Taiwan warns that common pain medications known as NSAIDs may increase the risk of kidney disease in those with high blood pressure. NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen (Aleve). High blood pressure is already a risk factor for kidney disease. The NSAIDs themselves can cause an … Continue reading NSAIDs May Increase Kidney Disease Risk for Hypertensive Patients

Stem Cell Therapy Points to Acute Kidney Injury Treatment

Researchers from Kyoto University in Japan have employed a novel stem cell therapy that could lead to a treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI). Working with a mouse model of AKI, the scientists administered renal progenitor cells—early, short-lived kidney cells—created from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Interestingly, the transplanted progenitor cells did not need to … Continue reading Stem Cell Therapy Points to Acute Kidney Injury Treatment

Age-Related Cellular Signal Puts Kidneys at Risk

Scientists from the University of Missouri have identified a cellular signal that makes aging kidneys vulnerable to injury. They found that low levels of a protein called alpha (E) catenin can occur with age, triggering first an increase in kidney cells, then the mass death of healthy cells in a process called apoptosis. Through apoptosis, … Continue reading Age-Related Cellular Signal Puts Kidneys at Risk

Zinc Levels May Contribute to Kidney Stones

A team of researchers led by scientists from UC San Francisco has discovered that zinc levels play a part in kidney stone formation and could represent a promising therapeutic target. Working with a fruit fly model as well as humans, they examined the relationship between zinc and the minerals that form kidney stones, such as … Continue reading Zinc Levels May Contribute to Kidney Stones

Study Shows How Kidneys Protect Themselves from Inflammation

Researchers at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University have discovered how the kidneys protect themselves from damaging inflammation. In mouse studies, they found that kidney podocyte cells produce the enzyme IDO in response to inflammation. Human kidney patients also exhibit high levels of the enzyme. Blocking IDO in experiments with mice led … Continue reading Study Shows How Kidneys Protect Themselves from Inflammation

New PKD Treatment Targets Kidney Blood Vessels

Researchers from the University of Manchester and University College London believe targeting the small blood vessels surrounding renal cysts could lead to a new treatment for polycystic kidney disease. They uncovered important abnormalities in the network of these blood vessels in mouse models of the most common form of PKD (ADPKD) and the rare form … Continue reading New PKD Treatment Targets Kidney Blood Vessels