Local activation of interleukin 6 signaling is associated with arteriovenous fistula stenosis in hemodialysis patients.

Background: Vascular access failure is the main cause of morbidity in hemodialysis patients. Stenosis of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is similar histologically to atherosclerosis. Recent studies showed that interleukin 6 (IL-6) has a key role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by binding 2 specific receptors, gp80 and gp130.

Sirolimus for Kaposi's sarcoma in renal-transplant recipients.

Background: Recipients of organ transplants are susceptible to Kaposi's sarcoma as a result of treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. Sirolimus (rapamycin), an immunosuppressive drug, may also have antitumor effects.

Methods: We stopped cyclosporine therapy in 15 kidney-transplant recipients who had biopsy-proven Kaposi's sarcoma and began sirolimus therapy.

Protease-activated receptor-2 expression in IgA nephropathy: a potential role in the pathogenesis of interstitial fibrosis.

An increasing body of evidence suggests that proteases may play a key role in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) is cleaved and activated by trypsin-like proteolytic enzymes, including tryptase and activated coagulation factor X (FXa). Both these soluble mediators have been demonstrated, directly or indirectly, at the interstitial level in progressive renal diseases, including IgA nephropathy (IgAN).