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PROGRESS IN UREMIC TOXIN RESEARCH: Cytokines, Atherogenesis, and Hypercatabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Dreadful Triad
Author(s) -
Carrero Juan Jesus,
Park SunHee,
Axelsson Jonas,
Lindholm Bengt,
Stenvinkel Peter
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
seminars in dialysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1525-139X
pISSN - 0894-0959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-139x.2009.00585.x
Subject(s) - medicine , uremic toxins , triad (sociology) , kidney disease , intensive care medicine , disease , toxin , immunology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , psychology , psychoanalysis
The term cytokine clusters denotes a copious family of molecules and correspondent receptors implicated in numerous processes mediating health and disease. In the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD), generation and metabolism of most of these cytokines are disturbed. Available evidence suggests that cytokine imbalances contribute to the progression of common CKD complications, such as atherosclerosis, mineral‐bone disease, and protein‐energy wasting via pleiotropic effects. The belief that cytokine CKD research is solely represented by interleukins (IL) and tumor‐necrosis factors (TNF) (mainly IL‐6 and TNF‐α) is a common misconception among nephrologists. We here explore recent findings concerning the pathophysiological role of various cytokines in uremic complications, and discuss how cytokines could be used as novel potential therapeutic targets in CKD. At the same time, we provide a brief overview of current discoveries in the main transforming growth factors and chemokines.