Study Links Elevated VEGF-B Protein Levels to Kidney Dysfunction
Recent research from the Karolinska Institutet has unveiled a significant correlation between heightened levels of the protein Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor B (VEGF-B) and deteriorating kidney function in patients suffering from diabetic kidney disease. The study, published in the journal Kidney International, highlights how fat accumulation in the kidneys, often a result of lipotoxicity, contributes to this impairment.
Diabetic kidney disease is characterized by the buildup of fat within the kidneys, which can lead to serious health complications. The research team, led by experts from the Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, discovered that increased VEGF-B levels in both kidney and adipose tissues were associated with greater fat accumulation and subsequent kidney dysfunction.
While current treatments such as antihypertensive and diabetes medications can slow the progression of diabetic kidney disease, they do not provide a cure. The findings of this study suggest that enhancing VEGF-B signaling in adipose tissue and the kidneys could be a contributing factor to the elevated release of fatty acids into the bloodstream. This process may lead to increased lipid deposits in the kidneys, which is a defining characteristic of diabetic kidney disease.
The lead researcher emphasized the clinical implications of these findings, proposing that measuring VEGF-B levels and evaluating lipid accumulation in the kidneys could assist in the early diagnosis of diabetic kidney disease. The research involved the analysis of kidney and adipose tissue samples from both diabetic patients and healthy controls, allowing for a direct comparison of VEGF-B levels and kidney function.
To bolster their findings, the researchers validated their data through gene expression analysis from RNA sequencing databases, focusing on patients with diabetic kidney damage. Additionally, genetically modified mouse models were utilized to further investigate the role of VEGF-B in fat release from adipose tissue and subsequent fat accumulation in the kidneys, ultimately leading to kidney dysfunction.
The study represents a collaborative effort among researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. The ongoing research aims to deepen the understanding of the mechanisms by which VEGF-B and other vascular growth factors influence fatty acid release from adipose tissue, as well as how disruptions in this process might contribute to systemic lipotoxicity and various complications associated with diabetes.
