Neph-er forget the importance of kidney research
- Details
- Created: Friday, 19 April 2024 07:33
Date: April 19, 2024
By: DWS microbiologist Kirsty McTear
Click here to view the original article at DSWScientific.com
Among the causes of CKD, acute kidney injury (AKI), which is characterised by a sudden decline in renal function, is an area of ongoing research for scientists [2]. AKI itself can be caused by renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury, by which the kidneys have been exposed to a period of hypoxia and then reintroduced to normal oxygen levels via blood circulation, which causes aggravation [2]. More specifically, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the kidney is exacerbated resulting in oxidative stress [2]. Usually, the transcription factor, nuclear factor erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), binds to kelch-like epichlorohydrin-associated protein 1 (Keap1) in the cytoplasm, where it is then tagged for degradation by ubiquitin, but under oxidative stress this interaction is prevented [2]. Instead, Nrf2 translocates into the nucleus where it initiates activation of antioxidants, making this process an ideal target for therapeutic treatment of kidney damage [2].