Renal tubular epithelial cell self-injury through Fas/Fas ligand interaction promotes renal allograft injury.

Tubular epithelial cells (TECs) coexpress Fas and Fas ligand (FasL), which could influence renal allograft injury. While TECs can resist apoptosis by Fas antibody, TEC apoptosis by contact with adjacent TECs has not been studied. Fas expression increased in TECs with cytokine treatment (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) while abundant FasL levels were not altered.

Increased expression of insulin-like growth factors in progressive glomerulonephritis of the MRL/lpr mouse.

Glomerulonephritis is an important complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The tissue distribution and exact role of the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) in the development of lupus nephritis in the MRL/lpr mouse model have not been established. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the changes over time in mRNA and peptide expression of IGF-I and IGFBP-2 in the MRL/lpr mouse.

Flaxseed in lupus nephritis: a two-year nonplacebo-controlled crossover study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the renoprotective effects of ground flaxseed in patients with lupus nephritis.

Methods: Forty patients with lupus nephritis were asked to participate in a randomized crossover trial of flaxseed. Twenty-three agreed and were randomized to receive 30 grams of ground flaxseed daily or control (no placebo) for one year, followed by a twelve-week washout period and the reverse treatment for one year.

A novel treatment for lupus nephritis: lignan precursor derived from flax.

Background: Flaxseed has renoprotective effects in animal and human lupus nephritis. We have recently extracted the lignan precursor (secoisolariresinol diglucoside) (SDG) to determine if this more palatable derivative of flaxseed would exert renoprotection similar to the whole flaxseed in the aggressive MRL/lpr lupus mouse model.

Methods: 131 MRL/lpr mice were randomly assigned to saline gavage, 600, 1,200 and 4,800 microg lignan gavage groups.

Effects of two low-flux cellulose acetate dialysers on plasma lipids and lipoproteins--a cross-over trial.

Background: Studies have shown a beneficial effect of high-flux dialysis on lipids, lipoproteins and lipoprotein lipase (Lpl) activity. This has been attributed to improved clearance of Lpl-inhibitory molecules of middle molecular weight, but differences in flux or biocompatibility have not been addressed. We conducted a blinded cross-over trial of two cellulose acetate dialysers (AN140, Althin Medical Inc.