General Nephrology

Cytoprotective doses of erythropoietin or carbamylated erythropoietin have markedly different procoagulant and vasoactive activities

Recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) being studied as potential therapy for prevention of injury and restoration of function in nonhematopoietic tissues. This effect may require high doses of rhEPO and may be associated with adverse reactions (thrombosis, hypertension, seizures). There are two receptors through which EPO produces this effect- the homodimeric receptor (EPOR)2, and the newly described alternative EPOR complex, EPOR-c. This study reports on the selective tissue-protective effect of carbamylated rhEPO which engages EPOR-c which may become useful in organ protection.

General Nephrology

Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Pathway Blockade Slows Progression of Diabetic Kidney Disease in Rats

This study demonstrates a beneficial effect of blockade to the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway by the mTOR blocker, sirolimus, in clinical and histologic markers of the progression of diabetic nephropathy in an animal model. Given the renal toxicity of higher dose sirolimus, studies on the width of the therapeutic window need to be performed in animal studies to guide any further human trials of the efficacy of this approach.