Potential applications of lipid peroxidation products in renal transplantation

Introduction

There has been an increased demand for renal transplantation in the last decades. This can be attributed to increasing number of patients with EDRD which may result from chronic diseases such as metabolic disorders, diabetes mellitus and hypertension [1]. Unfortunately, there are only limited kidney donors. This limited supply of donor kidneys has resulted in less strictness with regards to sources of kidney donors [2]. Thus, donor kidneys from diverse sources including the ECDs are received and transplanted [3]. However, reports indicate that kidneys sourced from ECDs are characterized by post-transplant complications such as acute rejection episodes, primary non-function, greater rate of delayed graft function (DGF) and greater frequency of graft failure [4]. The cold-storage and machine perfusion (MP) are two commonly employed techniques for the preservation of kidneys before transplantation [5]. Recent findings indicate that MP of donor kidneys is associated with some advantages such as reduced rates of DGF and better graft survival [6,7]. The use of MP allows certain important biomarkers in the perfusate to be evaluated and thereby provides information on the potential failure or success of post-kidney transplantation. One of such biomarkers is lipid peroxidation products. Lipid peroxidation products are biomarkers of oxidative stress, resulting from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-attack of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). They are reactive aldehydes which are injurious to cellular components such as proteins and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) [8]. These aldehydes which include 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), malondialdehyde (MDA), isoprostanes (IsoPs), neuroprostanes (neuroPs), isofurans and acrolein are associated with several chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and Alzheimer's disease [9-11] and other pathological states such as ischemia [12]. The aim of this mini review is to posit and highlight the potential applications of lipid peroxidation products in screening donor kidneys for renal transplantation.

Potential applications of lipid peroxidation products in renal transplantation

The suitability of kidneys for transplantation can now be determined by quantifying the levels of certain biomarkers including lipid peroxidation products in the perfusate. Transplanted kidneys are vulnerable to DGF-a form of acute kidney injury that immediately followed transplantation [13]. Among the common causes of DGF include ischemic kidney injuries in the donors [14]. Ischemia in kidney is associated with increased lipid peroxidation products [15,16]. In fact, lipid peroxidation biomarkers, MDA and HNE, are considered key biomarkers of ischemic kidney [17] and thus could be used in the detection of renal ischemic damage. Similarly, other lipid peroxidation products such as 8-isoprostane have been shown to be a potential reliable biomarker to predict renal ischemic injury during kidney transplant [18]. Lipid peroxidation products can also be used to monitor the response and progress of patient's recovery after kidney transplant. In renal transplant patients with chronic biopsy-proven rejection, the level of lipid peroxidation products is higher than in patients with stable function [19]. On the other hand, the levels of lipid peroxidation products such as MDA and F2-IsoPs have been found to be significantly lower and remain lower for months after renal transplantation [19,20]. Similarly, on postoperative day 5, higher serum creatinine concentrations and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) have been reported in high lipid peroxidation (LPO) group than in the low LPO group [21]. After 1 year, however, the serum creatinine concentrations and eGFR were similar between the groups [21].

Recently, it was reported that lipid peroxidation products and the activity of the enzyme (glutathione S-transferase) responsible for their elimination were considerably elevated at the end of MP [22]. The study also found that DGF after transplantation could be predicted by the levels of lipid peroxidation markers [22]. Considering the role of lipid peroxidation in the pathobiology of ischemic injury, some researchers have also attempted to use free radical scavengers or antioxidants to minimize post-transplant complications and the results are encouraging [23-25]. Although data are still limited, based on these few findings, it could be suggested that regular assessment of lipid peroxidation products in the perfusate of donor kidneys may help to detect those kidneys which have undergone severe oxidative damage. Such oxidatively-damaged kidneys need to be rejected. In other words, the clinical decision on the suitability of donor kidneys for transplantation could be arrived at partly by quantifying lipid peroxidation products.

Conclusion

The problem of kidney scarcity is a global phenomenon leading to an increased gap between supply of and demand for existing kidneys. This, therefore, necessitates the acceptance of kidneys from ECDs whose kidneys are highly prone to ischemic-injury induced DGF. The determination of lipid peroxidation products might be useful in renal transplantation in many ways. With the aid of MP, it becomes possible to measure lipid peroxidation products which reveal kidneys that have undergone severe ischemic and/or oxidative damage. For clinical decision making process, such data can be valuable in excluding those kidneys from being transplanted. This will help to ensure only donor kidneys that have better viability and quality are transplanted. Moreover, patient's post-transplant recovery can be assessed via lipid peroxidation products. There is also a good prospect for the use of free radical scavengers or antioxidants, especially with early intervention, to minimize or delay post-transplant complications such as DGF resulting from oxidative stressinduced ischemic damage. Thus, measurement of lipid peroxidation products will not only be cost-effective but also help to minimize post-transplant complications and the likelihood of kidney transplant failure. In view of the limited data, there is no doubt that the potential application of lipid peroxidation products in renal transplantation is an area that requires an attention and further studies. It has a potential that may invariably contribute to improved post-transplant survival as well as better quality of life of recipients. These lipid peroxidation products may also be relevant in other organ transplantations.

List of abbreviations
ESRD: end-stage renal disease
ECD: extended criteria donors
MP: machine perfusion DGF: delayed graft function
ROS: reactive oxygen species
PUFAs: polyunsaturated fatty acids
dna: deoxyribonucleic acid
HNE: 4-hydroxynonenal
MDA: malondialdehyde
IsoPs: isoprostanes
NeuroPs: neuroprostanes
eGFR: estimated glomerular filtration rate
LPO: lipid peroxidation

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

Publication history

Editor: Elsie Maria Muller, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
EIC: Stephen C Strom , Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
Received: 27-Aug-2013 Accepted: 10-Oct-2013
Published: 25-Oct-2013