Glomerular hemodynamic changes associated with arteriolar lesions and tubulointerstitial inflammation

Glomerular hemodynamic adaptations to loss of renal mass are thought to be the initiating factor of progression to renal failure; however, tubulointerstitial (TI) injury correlates better with progression than with glomerular damage. Thus, it is conceivable that tubulointerstitial alterations participate in the pathophysiology of renal disease progression by modifying the adaptive responses of glomerular hemodynamics. In experimental models of progressive renal disease, suppressing tubulointerstitial inflammatory cell infiltration with anti-inflammatory drugs reduces renal damage despite persistence of systemic hypertension. In recent studies in rats with subtotal renal ablation, we found that treatment with polysulphate pentosan (PPS) and with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) prevented proteinuria, glomerular hypertension, and hyperfiltration, despite persisting arterial hypertension due to higher afferent resistance. In addition, arteriolopathy was significantly attenuated by MMF, suggesting preservation of vascular structure and function. Association of vascular injury of afferent arterioles, glomerular hemodynamic changes, and renal lesions has been described in other conditions such as hyperuricemia, protein overload, fawn-hooded rats, and aging spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Arteriolopathy results in a maladaptive function that permits the transmission of systemic hypertension to glomerular capillaries. Glomerular hypertension results in mechanical damage to the capillary wall and increased filtration of proteins to tubular lumen. Enhanced tubular reabsorption induces synthesis of proinflammatory and profibrotic factors, resulting in tubulointerstitial inflammation and fibrosis. In conditions in which there is overactivity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), such as mild hyperuricemia and protein overload, arteriolopathy is associated with increased glomerular pressure and reduced glomerular plasma flow that results in post-glomerular ischemia and tubulointerstitial injury.