This Research Topic is part of the Contributing Factors to Renal Dysfunction: Fetal Programming, Hormones and Epigenetic series:
Contributing Factors to Renal Dysfunction: Fetal Programming, Hormones and EpigeneticNew molecular and cellular approaches have enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms controlling renal function. Yet, renal dysfunction associated to kidney disease is still one of the most prevalent complications in chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Thus, it is crucial to understand the underlying factors predisposing to renal dysfunction, such as fetal programming, epigenetic, hormonal, nutritional and metabolic interferences, and also the mechanisms involved in these process.
Evidence that nutritional restriction during pregnancy causes adaptations in offspring associated with the onset of diseases in adulthood has aroused fetal programming studies. Following, it was shown that other insults such as diabetes mellitus, exposure to glucocorticoids and sleep restriction during pregnancy also predispose to the development of renal dysfunction. These and many other factors that interfere in the intrauterine development have been evidenced expanding knowledge in the area. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in these processes allows future actions to be taken to avoid or at least reduce the effects of programming.
Alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) have been shown to play an important influence in renal development and in the loss of renal function. Other hormones, cytokines and/or intracellular mediators also participate in renal physiology and pathophysiology. Many advances have taken place in this field.
Epigenetic has emerged as a new way of looking at the determinants of several diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). The knowledge about the influence that DNA methylation and histone modifications has on gene expression in CKD added further complexity to the involvement of epigenetics in the expression of countless genes involved in the process of kidney injury. Animal models and clinical studies suggest a critical role for epigenetics in the course of inflammation, oxidative stress and tissue fibrosis development and progression in CKD. Thus, it is of utmost importance to deepen the knowledge about the epigenetic mechanisms related to the injury and dysfunction of the many types of kidney cells and the possible therapeutic pathways.
Thus, we believe that a collection of articles focusing mainly on hormones, cytokines, intracellular mediators, and also on epigenetic interferences participating in renal physiology and pathophysiology can substantially contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved and of importance for new developments in the area.
This Research Topic is part of the Contributing Factors to Renal Dysfunction: Fetal Programming, Hormones and Epigenetic series:
Contributing Factors to Renal Dysfunction: Fetal Programming, Hormones and EpigeneticNew molecular and cellular approaches have enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms controlling renal function. Yet, renal dysfunction associated to kidney disease is still one of the most prevalent complications in chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity. Thus, it is crucial to understand the underlying factors predisposing to renal dysfunction, such as fetal programming, epigenetic, hormonal, nutritional and metabolic interferences, and also the mechanisms involved in these process.
Evidence that nutritional restriction during pregnancy causes adaptations in offspring associated with the onset of diseases in adulthood has aroused fetal programming studies. Following, it was shown that other insults such as diabetes mellitus, exposure to glucocorticoids and sleep restriction during pregnancy also predispose to the development of renal dysfunction. These and many other factors that interfere in the intrauterine development have been evidenced expanding knowledge in the area. Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in these processes allows future actions to be taken to avoid or at least reduce the effects of programming.
Alterations in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS) have been shown to play an important influence in renal development and in the loss of renal function. Other hormones, cytokines and/or intracellular mediators also participate in renal physiology and pathophysiology. Many advances have taken place in this field.
Epigenetic has emerged as a new way of looking at the determinants of several diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD). The knowledge about the influence that DNA methylation and histone modifications has on gene expression in CKD added further complexity to the involvement of epigenetics in the expression of countless genes involved in the process of kidney injury. Animal models and clinical studies suggest a critical role for epigenetics in the course of inflammation, oxidative stress and tissue fibrosis development and progression in CKD. Thus, it is of utmost importance to deepen the knowledge about the epigenetic mechanisms related to the injury and dysfunction of the many types of kidney cells and the possible therapeutic pathways.
Thus, we believe that a collection of articles focusing mainly on hormones, cytokines, intracellular mediators, and also on epigenetic interferences participating in renal physiology and pathophysiology can substantially contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved and of importance for new developments in the area.
