Sarah Faubel

University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO, USA

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Publications (36)175.18 Total impact

  • Article: Urine IL-18, NGAL, IL-8 and serum IL-8 are biomarkers of acute kidney injury following liver transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: AKI is common following liver transplantation and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Biomarkers of AKI have not been well established in this setting but are needed to help guide patient care and facilitate development of novel therapeutics. METHODS: Serum creatinine, cystatin C, IL-6, and IL-8 and urine IL-18, NGAL, IL-6, and IL-8 were measured before and within 24 hours after liver transplantation in 40 patients. AKI was defined as a >=50% sustained increase in creatinine above pre-operative values occurring within 24 hours of transplantation and persisting for at least 24 hours. RESULTS: Seven patients met criteria for AKI (17.5%), with mean creatinines of 0.81 mg/dL pre-operatively and 1.75 mg/dL post-operatively. While pre-operative biomarker levels in patients with AKI were similar to those in patients without AKI, differences were seen between the groups with regard to median post-operative serum IL-8 (pg/mL) (242.48 vs. 82.37, p = 0.0463) and urine NGAL (ng/mL) (386.86 vs. 24.31, p = 0.0039), IL-6 (pg/mL) (52 vs. 7.29, p=0.0532), IL-8 (pg/mL) (14.3 vs. 0, p = 0.0224), and IL-18 (pg/mL) (883.09 vs. 0, p = 0.0449). The areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 0.749 for urine IL-18, 0.833 for urine NGAL, 0.745 for urine IL-6, 0.682 for serum IL-6, 0.773 for urine IL-8, and 0.742 for serum IL-8. Post-operative cystatin C was not significantly different between AKI and no AKI groups. CONCLUSION: Serum IL-8 and urine IL-18, NGAL, IL-6, and IL-8 are elevated in AKI within the first 24 hours following liver transplantation.
    BMC Nephrology 01/2013; 14(1):17. · 2.18 Impact Factor
  • Article: Intratracheal IL-6 Protects against Lung Inflammation in Direct, but Not Indirect, Causes of Acute Lung Injury in Mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Serum and bronchoalveolar fluid IL-6 are increased in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and predict prolonged mechanical ventilation and poor outcomes, although the role of intra-alveolar IL-6 in indirect lung injury is unknown. We investigated the role of endogenous and exogenous intra-alveolar IL-6 in AKI-mediated lung injury (indirect lung injury), intraperitoneal (IP) endotoxin administration (indirect lung injury) and, for comparison, intratracheal (IT) endotoxin administration (direct lung injury) with the hypothesis that IL-6 would exert a pro-inflammatory effect in these causes of acute lung inflammation. Bronchoalveolar cytokines (IL-6, CXCL1, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10), BAL fluid neutrophils, lung inflammation (lung cytokines, MPO activity [a biochemical marker of neutrophil infiltration]), and serum cytokines were determined in adult male C57Bl/6 mice with no intervention or 4 hours after ischemic AKI (22 minutes of renal pedicle clamping), IP endotoxin (10 µg), or IT endotoxin (80 µg) with and without intratracheal (IT) IL-6 (25 ng or 200 ng) treatment. Lung inflammation was similar after AKI, IP endotoxin, and IT endotoxin. BAL fluid IL-6 was markedly increased after IT endotoxin, and not increased after AKI or IP endotoxin. Unexpectedly, IT IL-6 exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in healthy mice characterized by reduced BAL fluid cytokines. IT IL-6 also exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in IT endotoxin characterized by reduced BAL fluid cytokines and lung inflammation; IT IL-6 had no effect on lung inflammation in AKI or IP endotoxin. IL-6 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in direct lung injury from IT endotoxin, yet has no role in the pathogenesis or treatment of indirect lung injury from AKI or IP endotoxin. Since intra-alveolar inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of direct, but not indirect, causes of lung inflammation, IT anti-inflammatory treatments may have a role in direct, but not indirect, causes of ARDS.
    PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(5):e61405. · 4.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: Circulating IL-6 mediates lung injury via CXCL1 production after acute kidney injury in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Serum IL-6 is increased in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and increased mortality. Inhibition of IL-6 in mice with AKI reduces lung injury associated with a reduction in the chemokine CXCL1 and lung neutrophils. Whether circulating IL-6 or locally produced lung IL-6 mediates lung injury after AKI is unknown. We hypothesized that circulating IL-6 mediates lung injury after AKI by increasing lung endothelial CXCL1 production and subsequent neutrophil infiltration. To test the role of circulating IL-6 in AKI-mediated lung injury, recombinant murine IL-6 was administered to IL-6-deficient mice. To test the role of CXCL1 in AKI-mediated lung injury, CXCL1 was inhibited by use of CXCR2-deficient mice and anti-CXCL1 antibodies in mice with ischemic AKI or bilateral nephrectomy. Injection of recombinant IL-6 to IL-6-deficient mice with AKI increased lung CXCL1 and lung neutrophils. Lung endothelial CXCL1 was increased after AKI. CXCR2-deficient and CXCL1 antibody-treated mice with ischemic AKI or bilateral nephrectomy had reduced lung neutrophil content. In summary, we demonstrate for the first time that circulating IL-6 is a mediator of lung inflammation and injury after AKI. Since serum IL-6 is increased in patients with either AKI or acute lung injury and predicts prolonged mechanical ventilation and increased mortality in both conditions, our data suggest that serum IL-6 is not simply a biomarker of poor outcomes but a pathogenic mediator of lung injury.
    AJP Renal Physiology 07/2012; 303(6):F864-72. · 4.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Cytokine production increases and cytokine clearance decreases in mice with bilateral nephrectomy.
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    ABSTRACT: Background Serum cytokines are increased in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and predict increased mortality. It is widely assumed that increased renal production of cytokines is the source of increased serum cytokines; the role of extra-renal cytokine production and impaired renal cytokine clearance is less well studied. We hypothesized that cytokine production in AKI was mononuclear phagocyte dependent, independent of production by the kidneys, and that serum cytokine clearance would be impaired in AKI.Methods Bilateral nephrectomy was used as a model of AKI to assess cytokine production independent of kidney cytokine production. Mononuclear phagocytes were depleted utilizing intravenous (IV) administration of liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC). Twenty-three serum cytokines were determined utilizing a multiplex cytokine kit. Proteins for cytokines were determined in the spleen and liver by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Recombinant cytokines were injected by IV into mice with bilateral nephrectomy to determine the effect of absent kidney function on serum cytokine clearance.ResultsSerum interleukin (IL)-6, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), IL-10, IL-1β, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), IL-5 and eotaxin were increased in the serum of mice after bilateral nephrectomy and were reduced with LEC. Serum IL-12p40 and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed, and secreted (RANTES) were increased after bilateral nephrectomy and were further increased with LEC. Spleen IL-6, CXCL1, IL-10 and IL-1β and liver IL-6 and IL-10 were increased after bilateral nephrectomy. After IV injection, IL-6, CXCL1, IL-10 and IL-1β had a prolonged serum cytokine appearance in mice with bilateral nephrectomy versus sham operation.Conclusions Increased mononuclear phagocyte production and impaired renal clearance contribute to serum cytokine accumulation in AKI, independent of kidney injury. The effect of AKI on cytokine production and clearance may contribute to the increased mortality of patients with AKI.
    Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 07/2012; · 3.40 Impact Factor
  • Article: Complement activation and toll-like receptor-2 signaling contribute to cytokine production after renal ischemia/reperfusion.
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    ABSTRACT: The innate immune system causes tissue inflammation and injury after renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). The complement system is activated on ischemic tubular epithelial cells (TECs) and induces the cells to produce pro-inflammatory chemokines. TECs also express toll-like receptors (TLRs)-2 and -4. Signaling through the TLRs induces TECs to produce a variety of chemokines, some of which can also be induced by complement activation fragments. We sought to determine whether the effects of complement activation and TLR signaling in TECs are redundant, or whether additive protection can be achieved by blocking both of these innate immune systems. To confirm that the complement system, TLR-2 signaling, and TLR-4 signaling induce production of a similar repertoire of inflammatory chemokines, we stimulated TECs with complement sufficient serum or with TLR-2 and TLR-4 ligands in vitro. We found that all three of these stimuli induce TECs to produce KC, MIP-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, and that there was a trend toward greater production of KC in cells exposed to two stimuli. Based upon these results, we hypothesized that mice deficient in both complement activation and TLR-2 signaling would demonstrate greater protection from I/R than mice deficient only in the complement system. To test this hypothesis we induced ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) in wild-type mice, mice with targeted deletion of complement factor B (fB(-/-) mice), or mice with targeted deletion of factor B and TLR-2 (fB(-/-)TLR2(-/-) mice). Surprisingly, we found that fB(-/-)TLR2(-/-) mice developed more severe injury than those with single deficiency of factor B. Our results indicate that blockade of the complement system may be more protective than simultaneous blockade of both the complement system and TLR-2 in ischemic AKI.
    Molecular Immunology 06/2012; 52(3-4):249-57. · 2.90 Impact Factor
  • Article: Depletion of macrophages and dendritic cells in ischemic acute kidney injury.
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    ABSTRACT: Inflammation is thought to play a role in ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). We have demonstrated that macrophage and dendritic cell depletion, using liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC), is protective against ischemic AKI. To determine whether macrophages or dendritic cells or both play a role in ischemic AKI, we performed ischemic AKI in CD11b-DTR mice that have a diphtheria toxin (DT)-induced depletion of CD11b cells (macrophages) and CD11c-DTR mice that have a DT-induced depletion of CD11c cells (dendritic cells). While LEC-treated animals had a significant functional protection from AKI, CD11b-DTR and CD11c-DTR mice were not protected against AKI despite a similar degree of renal macrophage and dendritic cell depletion. Proinflammatory cytokines are known to play a role in ischemic AKI. To determine the possible reasons for the lack of protection in CD11b-DTR and CD11c-DTR mice compared to LEC-treated mice, 32 cytokines/chemokines were measured in these mice. Of the cytokines/chemokines measured, IL-6, MCP-1, GMCSF, IL-1β and CXCL1 (also known as IL-8 in humans or KC in mice) showed significant differences in the LEC-treated, CD11b-DTR and CD11c-DTR mice. MCP-1 and CXCL1 (known mediators of AKI), and also GMCSF and IL-1β were increased in AKI and decreased in LEC-treated AKI but not AKI in CD11b-DTR or CD11c-DTR mice. These findings suggest that LEC-mediated protection from AKI is not simply mediated by depletion of renal macrophage or dendritic cell subpopulations. Protection against AKI in LEC-treated compared to CD11b-DTR or CD11c-DTR mice may be partially explained by differences in proinflammatory cytokine profiles.
    American Journal of Nephrology 01/2012; 35(2):181-90. · 2.54 Impact Factor
  • Article: Macrophages mediate lung inflammation in a mouse model of ischemic acute kidney injury.
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    ABSTRACT: Serum IL-6 is increased in acute kidney injury (AKI) and inhibition of IL-6 reduces AKI-mediated lung inflammation. We hypothesized that circulating monocytes produce IL-6 and that alveolar macrophages mediate lung inflammation after AKI via chemokine (CXCL1) production. To investigate systemic and alveolar macrophages in lung injury after AKI, sham operation or 22 min of renal pedicle clamping (AKI) was performed in three experimental settings: 1) systemic macrophage depletion via diphtheria toxin (DT) injection to CD11b-DTR transgenic mice, 2) DT injection to wild-type mice, and 3) alveolar macrophage depletion via intratracheal (IT) liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC) administration to wild-type mice. In mice with AKI and systemic macrophage depletion (CD11b-DTR transgenic administered DT) vs. vehicle-treated AKI, blood monocytes and lung interstitial macrophages were reduced, renal function was similar, serum IL-6 was increased, lung inflammation was improved, lung CXCL1 was reduced, and lung capillary leak was increased. In wild-type mice with AKI administered DT vs. vehicle, serum IL-6 was increased. In mice with AKI and alveolar macrophage depletion (IT-LEC) vs. AKI with normal alveolar macrophage content, blood monocytes and lung interstitial macrophages were similar, alveolar macrophages were reduced, renal function was similar, lung inflammation was improved, lung CXCL1 was reduced, and lung capillary leak was increased. In conclusion, administration of DT in AKI is proinflammatory, limiting the use of the DTR-transgenic model to study systemic effects of AKI. Mice with AKI and either systemic mononuclear phagocyte depletion or alveolar macrophage depletion had reduced lung inflammation and lung CXCL1, but increased lung capillary leak; thus, mononuclear phagocytes mediate lung inflammation, but they protect against lung capillary leak after ischemic AKI. Since macrophage activation and chemokine production are key events in the development of acute lung injury (ALI), these data provide further evidence that AKI may cause ALI.
    AJP Renal Physiology 11/2011; 302(4):F421-32. · 4.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Acute kidney injury: Severity of illness scoring systems in acute kidney injury.
    Sarah Faubel, Charles L Edelstein
    Nature Reviews Nephrology 11/2011; 8(1):8-10. · 7.09 Impact Factor
  • Article: IL-33 exacerbates acute kidney injury.
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    ABSTRACT: Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). IL-33 is a proinflammatory cytokine, but its role in AKI is unknown. Here we observed increased protein expression of full-length IL-33 in the kidney following induction of AKI with cisplatin. To determine whether IL-33 promotes injury, we administered soluble ST2 (sST2), a fusion protein that neutralizes IL-33 activity by acting as a decoy receptor. Compared with cisplatin-induced AKI in untreated mice, mice treated with sST2 had fewer CD4 T cells infiltrate the kidney, lower serum creatinine, and reduced acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and apoptosis. In contrast, administration of recombinant IL-33 (rIL-33) exacerbated cisplatin-induced AKI, measured by an increase in CD4 T cell infiltration, serum creatinine, ATN, and apoptosis; this did not occur in CD4-deficient mice, suggesting that CD4 T cells mediate the injurious effect of IL-33. Wildtype mice that received cisplatin and rIL-33 also had higher levels of the proinflammatory chemokine CXCL1, which CD T cells produce, in the kidney compared with CD4-deficient mice. Mice deficient in the CXCL1 receptor also had lower serum creatinine, ATN, and apoptosis than wildtype mice following cisplatin-induced AKI. Taken together, IL-33 promotes AKI through CD4 T cell-mediated production of CXCL1. These data suggest that inhibiting IL-33 or CXCL1 may have therapeutic potential in AKI.
    Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 09/2011; 22(11):2057-67. · 9.66 Impact Factor
  • Article: In critically ill patients requiring CRRT, AKI is associated with increased respiratory failure and death versus ESRD.
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    ABSTRACT: To compare outcomes of critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) versus those with pre-existing end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring CRRT to identify factors that contribute to the increased mortality seen in AKI patients. Retrospective cohort of 257 intensive care unit (ICU) patients who received CRRT. AKI is defined as requiring CRRT with an admission serum creatinine ≤1 mg/dL; ESRD is defined as chronic dialysis dependence. Primary outcome was hospital mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the impact of APACHE II score, intubation, vasopressors, infection, diabetes, hypertension, gender, and race on mortality. Of 257 patients requiring CRRT, 28 had ESRD and 108 had AKI. Hospital mortality was higher in patients with AKI versus ESRD (69% vs. 39%, p = 0.0032). Severity of illness using APACHE II was similar in AKI and ESRD. Patients with AKI were more likely to require mechanical ventilation (89% vs. 57%, p = 0.0003). After multivariate analysis, the requirement for mechanical ventilation was the single factor associated with increased hospital mortality [odds ratio (OR): 3.1]. In ICU patients requiring CRRT, patients with AKI have a higher mortality than patients with ESRD due to an increased need for mechanical ventilation.
    Renal Failure 09/2011; 33(10):935-42. · 0.82 Impact Factor
  • Article: Apoptosis and autophagy in cold preservation ischemia.
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    ABSTRACT: Prolonged cold ischemia (CI) is a risk factor for the development of delayed graft function that predicts reduced 5-year kidney transplant survival. CI results in caspase-3 activation, tubular injury, and apoptosis. Autophagy, a highly conserved pathway that permits recycling of nutrients within the cell during stress, is linked to apoptosis. We hypothesized that CI during kidney preservation would induce autophagy. We sought to determine apoptosis and autophagic flux in CI. Autophagic flux and apoptosis were examined in kidneys of wild-type and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-microtubule-associated protein1 light chain 3 (LC3) transgenic mice that were subjected to 48 hr of CI. Autophagic flux was determined by performing experiments with and without bafilomycin A1. CI alone significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells/hpf, caspase-3/7 activity, and protein expression of autophagy markers LC3 II and autophagy-related protein 5. To determine the effect of inhibiting autophagic flux on apoptosis, kidneys of wild-type and GFP-LC3 transgenic mice were subjected to 48 hr of CI in the presence of lysosomal inhibitor bafilomycin A1. The combination of CI and bafilomycin A1 suppressed autophagic flux and significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells/hpf, caspase-3/7 activity, LC3 II (both by immunoblot and in GFP-LC3 transgenic mice), and autophagy-related protein 5 protein expression. In summary, we have shown that autophagy and autophagic flux are reduced in cold ischemic kidneys treated with bafilomycin A1. Reduced autophagy and autophagic flux were associated with a significant reduction in apoptotic cell death, which may provide a therapeutic rationale for including bafilomycin A1 in University of Wisconsin solution during organ preservation.
    Transplantation 06/2011; 91(11):1192-7. · 4.00 Impact Factor
  • Article: Splenectomy exacerbates lung injury after ischemic acute kidney injury in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) have increased serum proinflammatory cytokines and an increased occurrence of respiratory complications. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of renal and extrarenal cytokine production on AKI-mediated lung injury in mice. C57Bl/6 mice underwent sham surgery, splenectomy, ischemic AKI, or ischemic AKI with splenectomy and kidney, spleen, and liver cytokine mRNA, serum cytokines, and lung injury were examined. The proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, CXCL1, IL-1β, and TNF-α were increased in the kidney, spleen, and liver within 6 h of ischemic AKI. Since splenic proinflammatory cytokines were increased, we hypothesized that splenectomy would protect against AKI-mediated lung injury. On the contrary, splenectomy with AKI resulted in increased serum IL-6 and worse lung injury as judged by increased lung capillary leak, higher lung myeloperoxidase activity, and higher lung CXCL1 vs. AKI alone. Splenectomy itself was not associated with increased serum IL-6 or lung injury vs. sham. To investigate the mechanism of the increased proinflammatory response, splenic production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was determined and was markedly upregulated. To confirm that splenic IL-10 downregulates the proinflammatory response of AKI, IL-10 was administered to splenectomized mice with AKI, which reduced serum IL-6 and improved lung injury. Our data demonstrate that AKI in the absence of a counter anti-inflammatory response by splenic IL-10 production results in an exuberant proinflammatory response and lung injury.
    AJP Renal Physiology 06/2011; 301(4):F907-16. · 4.42 Impact Factor
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    Article: Urine interleukin-6 is an early biomarker of acute kidney injury in children undergoing cardiac surgery.
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    ABSTRACT: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine that increases early in the serum of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to determine whether urine IL-6 is an early biomarker of AKI and determine the source of urine IL-6. Numerous proteins, including cytokines, are filtered by the glomerulus and then endocytosed and metabolized by the proximal tubule. Since proximal tubule injury is a hallmark of AKI, we hypothesized that urine IL-6 would increase in AKI due to impaired proximal tubule metabolism of filtered IL-6. Urine was collected in 25 consecutive pediatric patients undergoing cardiac bypass surgery (CPB). AKI was defined as a 50% increase in serum creatinine at 24 hours (RIFLE (Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End stage), R). Mouse models of AKI and freshly isolated proximal tubules were also studied. Urine IL-6 increased at six hours in patients with AKI versus no AKI (X2 = 8.1750; P < 0.0042). Urine IL-6 > 75 pg/mg identified AKI with a sensitivity of 88%. To assess whether increased urine IL-6 occurs in functional versus structural renal failure, mouse models of pre-renal azotemia after furosemide injection (no tubular injury), ischemic AKI (tubular injury) and cisplatin AKI (tubular injury) were studied. Urine IL-6 did not significantly increase in pre-renal azotemia but did increase in ischemic and cisplatin AKI. To determine if circulating IL-6 appears in the urine in AKI, recombinant human (h)IL-6 was injected intravenously and urine collected for one hour; urine hIL-6 increased in ischemic AKI, but not pre-renal azotemia. To determine the effect of AKI on circulating IL-6, serum hIL-6 was determined one hour post-intravenous injection and was increased in ischemic AKI, but not pre-renal azotemia. To directly examine IL-6 metabolism, hIL-6 was added to the media of normal and hypoxic isolated proximal tubules; hIL-6 was reduced in the media of normal versus injured hypoxic proximal tubules. Urine IL-6 increases early in patients with AKI. Animal studies demonstrate that failure of proximal tubule metabolism of IL-6 results in increased serum and urine IL-6. Impaired IL-6 metabolism leading to increased serum IL-6 may contribute to the deleterious systemic effects and increased mortality associated with AKI.
    Critical care (London, England) 10/2010; 14(5):R181. · 4.61 Impact Factor
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    Article: Serum interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 are early biomarkers of acute kidney injury and predict prolonged mechanical ventilation in children undergoing cardiac surgery: a case-control study.
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    ABSTRACT: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high mortality rates. New biomarkers that can identify subjects with early AKI (before the increase in serum creatinine) are needed to facilitate appropriate treatment. The purpose of this study was to test the role of serum cytokines as biomarkers for AKI and prolonged mechanical ventilation. This was a case-control study of children undergoing cardiac surgery. AKI was defined as a 50% increase in serum creatinine from baseline within 3 days. Levels of serum interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were measured using a bead-based multiplex cytokine kit in conjunction with flow-based protein detection and the Luminex LabMAP multiplex system in 18 cases and 21 controls. Levels of IL-6 and IL-8 were confirmed with single-analyte ELISA; IL-18 was also measured with single-analyte ELISA. IL-6 levels at 2 and 12 hours after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and IL-8 levels at 2, 12 and 24 hours were associated with the development of AKI using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test and after adjustment for age, gender, race, and prior cardiac surgery in multivariate logistic regression analysis. In patients with AKI, IL-6 levels at 2 hours had excellent predictive value for prolonged mechanical ventilation (defined as mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours postoperatively) by receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.95. IL-8 levels at 2 hours had excellent predictive value for prolonged mechanical ventilation in all patients. Serum IL-18 levels were not different between those with and without AKI. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 values identify AKI early in patients undergoing CPB surgery. Furthermore, among patients with AKI, high IL-6 levels are associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, suggesting that circulating cytokines in patients with AKI may have deleterious effects on other organs, including the lungs.
    Critical care (London, England) 08/2009; 13(4):R104. · 4.61 Impact Factor
  • Article: Macrophages are not the source of injurious interleukin-18 in ischemic acute kidney injury in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: We previously reported in ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice that caspase-1-mediated production of interleukin-18 (IL-18) is pathogenic and that macrophage depletion by liposome-encapsulated clodronate (LEC) is protective. Therefore, our aim was to determine whether macrophages are a source of IL-18 in ischemic AKI in mice. On immunofluorescence staining of the outer stripe of outer medulla, the number of macrophages double stained for CD11b and IL-18 was significantly increased in AKI and significantly decreased by LEC. Adoptive transfer of RAW 264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage line that constitutively expresses IL-18 mRNA, reversed the functional protection against AKI in both LEC-treated wild-type and caspase-1 -/- mice. To test whether IL-18 in macrophages is necessary to cause AKI, we adoptively transferred macrophages in which IL-18 was inhibited. Peritoneal macrophages isolated from wild-type mice, IL-18 binding protein transgenic (IL-18 BP Tg) mice, and IL-18 -/- mice were used. IL-18 BP Tg mice overexpress human IL-18 BP and exhibit decreased biological activity of IL-18. Adoptive transfer of peritoneal macrophages from wild-type as well as IL-18 BP Tg and IL-18 -/- mice reversed the functional protection against AKI in LEC-treated mice. In summary, adoptive transfer of RAW cells, that constitutively express IL-18, reverses the functional protection in macrophage-depleted wild-type and caspase-1 -/- mice with AKI. However, adoptive transfer of peritoneal macrophages in which IL-18 function was inhibited also reverses the functional protection in macrophage-depleted mice. In conclusion, IL-18 from adoptive transfer of macrophages is not sufficient to cause ischemic AKI.
    American journal of physiology. Renal physiology 02/2009; 296(3):F535-42. · 3.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Role of NF-kappaB and PI 3-kinase/Akt in TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity in microvascular endothelial cells.
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    ABSTRACT: The interaction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha with the endothelium is a pivotal factor during endotoxemia. Inflammatory conditions are characterized by the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and the expression of inflammatory mediators. Previous reports indicate that inhibition of NF-kappaB activation during sepsis may be beneficial to the microvasculature. In addition, the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway (PI3-kinase/Akt) has been shown to be cytoprotective. In this study, we examined the effect of inhibition of NF-kappaB and PI3-kinase/Akt on cell viability, cytokine production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nitric oxide (NO) generation by TNF-alpha-treated cultured microvascular endothelial cells. TNF-alpha induced significant cytotoxicity and was associated with increased inflammatory cytokines and NO and increased expression of iNOS. The NF-kappaB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), prevented these increases and significantly attenuated the TNF-alpha-induced cytotoxicity. TNF-alpha also caused PI3-kinase/Akt activation, which was further increased by PDTC and prevented by the PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002. Inhibition of PI3-kinase/Akt also significantly potentiated TNF-alpha-mediated cytotoxicity. LY294002 treatment resulted in the appearance of increased apoptosis, compatible with the known anti-apoptotic properties of PI3-kinase/Akt. The present results therefore demonstrate a cytotoxic effect of TNF-alpha in microvascular endothelial cells which can be attenuated by NF-kappaB inhibition. In addition, PI3-kinase/Akt activation during TNF-alpha exposure may represent a compensatory anti-necrotic and anti-apoptotic pathway. The cytoprotective effects of NF-kappaB inhibition and PI3-kinase/Akt activation may have potential implications in the treatment of endotoxemia and septic shock.
    American journal of physiology. Renal physiology 10/2008; 295(4):F932-41. · 3.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Interleukin-18 binding protein transgenic mice are protected against ischemic acute kidney injury.
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    ABSTRACT: IL-18 function is neutralized in IL-18 binding protein transgenic (IL-18BP Tg) mice. First, we determined whether IL-18BP Tg mice are protected against ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI). Ischemic AKI was induced by bilateral renal pedicle clamping. IL-18BP Tg mice were functionally and histologically protected against ischemic AKI as determined by blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, and acute tubular necrosis score. We have demonstrated that the injurious effect of IL-18 in the kidney is independent of neutrophils and lymphocytes. Thus the effect of IL-18 inhibition on renal macrophage infiltration was determined. The number of macrophages was significantly reduced in IL-18BP Tg compared with wild-type kidneys. To determine the cytokines and chemokines that are dependent on IL-18, we performed flow cytometry based assays. Multiple chemokines/cytokines, IL-3, IL-6, IL-15, IL-18, leukemia inhibitory factor, macrophage colony-stimulating factor, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 were significantly increased in AKI vs. sham kidneys. Only CXCL1 (also known as KC or IL-8) was significantly increased in AKI vs. sham kidneys and significantly reduced in IL-18BP Tg AKI vs. wild-type AKI kidneys. To determine whether macrophages are the source of CXCL1 in the kidney, we depleted macrophages with liposomal encapsulated clodronate. CXCL1 was significantly decreased in macrophage-depleted vs. control AKI mice. In summary, in ischemic AKI in mice, 1) IL-18BP Tg mice are functionally and histologically protected, 2) macrophage infiltration in the kidney and CXCL1 are significantly reduced in IL-18BP Tg mice, and 3) macrophage depletion significantly reduces CXCL1 in the kidney. In conclusion, protection against ischemic AKI in IL-18BP Tg mice is associated with less macrophage infiltration and less production of CXCL1 in the kidney.
    American journal of physiology. Renal physiology 09/2008; 295(5):F1414-21. · 3.68 Impact Factor
  • Article: Interleukin-6 mediates lung injury following ischemic acute kidney injury or bilateral nephrectomy.
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    ABSTRACT: Patients with acute kidney injury frequently have pulmonary complications. Similarly ischemic acute kidney injury or bilateral nephrectomy in rodents causes lung injury characterized by pulmonary edema, increased pulmonary capillary leak and interstitial leukocyte infiltration. Interleukin-6 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that is increased in the serum of patients with acute kidney injury and predicts mortality. Here we found that lung neutrophil infiltration, myeloperoxidase activity, the neutrophil chemokines KC and MIP-2 and capillary leak all increased within 4 h following acute kidney injury in wild-type mice. These pathologic factors were reduced in interleukin-6-deficient mice following acute kidney injury or bilateral nephrectomy. The lungs of mutant mice had reduced KC but MIP-2 was similar to that of wild type mice. Wild-type mice, treated with an interleukin-6 inactivating antibody, had decreased lung myeloperoxidase activity and KC levels following acute kidney injury. Our study shows that interleukin-6 contributes to lung injury following acute kidney injury.
    Kidney International 08/2008; 74(7):901-9. · 6.61 Impact Factor
  • Article: Exciting times in research regarding the definition, diagnosis, complications, and outcomes of acute kidney injury.
    Sarah Faubel, Charles L Edelstein
    Advances in chronic kidney disease 08/2008; 15(3):211-2. · 2.42 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pulmonary complications after acute kidney injury.
    Sarah Faubel
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    ABSTRACT: The development of respiratory failure in patients with AKI is a particularly devastating consequence that greatly increases patient mortality. When respiratory failure and AKI occur together, the mortality is greater than 80%. A clear understanding of the mechanisms leading to respiratory failure is of great clinical relevance to patients with AKI in order to prevent and treat this life-threatening complication. Pulmonary edema leading to respiratory failure has been a recognized complication of kidney failure since 1901. Remarkably, the pathogenesis of this complication remains elusive, despite over 100 years of clinical and experimental debate in the literature. A review of this literature suggests that there are 4 causes of pulmonary edema leading to respiratory failure in patients with AKI: (1) volume overload (cardiogenic edema), (2) left ventricular dysfunction (cardiogenic edema), (3) increased lung capillary permeability (noncardiogenic edema), and (4) acute lung injury (noncardiogenic edema with inflammation). In this review, these mechanisms are presented in historical context including the original descriptions of pathology and pathophysiology, recent epidemiologic data, and experimental studies in animals. Although volume overload is a well-accepted mechanism of pulmonary edema in patients with AKI, the purpose of this review was to highlight the evidence showing that noncardiogenic edema and acute lung injury also occur. By recognizing that the pulmonary complications of AKI are not simply from volume overload, specific treatment strategies may be discovered and used to improve outcomes in patients with the ominous and life threatening combination of AKI and respiratory failure.
    Advances in chronic kidney disease 08/2008; 15(3):284-96. · 2.42 Impact Factor