Chronic kidney disease is a serious and growing health problem that affects about 1 in 10 people in Sweden.
It happens when the kidneys slowly stop working properly over time. In the worst cases, patients may need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
Now, scientists from Karolinska Institutet, Uppsala University, and Northwestern University have found a promising new way to treat this disease.
In a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, they show that a special antibody called ABTAA can help protect blood vessels in the kidneys and reduce scarring, also known as fibrosis.
The researchers looked at a receptor on the surface of blood vessels called TIE2. This receptor plays a role in keeping blood vessels healthy. Normally, a certain protein blocks TIE2 from working.
But the ABTAA antibody can attach to this protein and turn it into a helper instead. This activates TIE2, helping protect the blood vessels from damage.
By protecting the blood vessels, the researchers were also able to protect the kidney’s delicate environment. This stopped harmful signals that cause fibrosis. Marie Jeansson, a scientist from the Department of Medicine at Karolinska Institutet, explained that this helped preserve kidney health in their experiments.
The research was done in preclinical models (such as lab animals), and it showed that ABTAA not only protected the blood vessels, but also had good effects on other parts of the kidney.
One important finding was that damaged blood vessels did not change into different types of cells as scientists once believed. Instead, a different type of kidney cell started sending out signals that cause fibrosis. But when TIE2 was activated by ABTAA, these harmful signals were reduced.
This discovery could lead to a whole new kind of treatment for chronic kidney disease. Right now, treatment options are limited. If this new approach works in humans, it could be life-changing for many patients.
The next step for the research team is to test whether these positive results can be seen in human studies. If successful, ABTAA could become a powerful new tool in the fight against kidney disease.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about Common statin drug linked to kidney damage and how drinking coffee can affect your kidney health.
For more health information, please read studies about important cause of kidney disease and Cruciferous vegetables may reverse kidney damage in diabetics.
The study is published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
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