EMBARGOED
FOR RELEASE UNTIL
August 8, 2007
APS Contact
Donna Krupa
Office:
(301) 634-7253
Cell: (703) 967-2751
dkrupa@the-aps.org
Female Gender Provides An
Advantage In Renal Diseases
Women
with certain renal diseases progress at slower rate than men
Austin, TX – Gender influences the prevalence
and progression rate of many renal diseases, such as polycystic kidney
disease (PKD). The physiology behind gender differences and renal disease is
still uncertain, but the distinct characteristics of male and female kidney
size, along with diet and the presence of hypertension, have all been
thought to play a part. Sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone) have also
thought to contribute to the differences, as hormones may influence the
body’s responses to renal injury. Estrogen especially may exert certain
cellular effects on the kidney because it can suppress the growth of scar
tissue as well as affect various growth factors which impact the kidney.
Research Update: Estrogen in Renal Disease
Previous studies using animal models have used hormonal
manipulation to explore the effects of sex hormones on renal disease. In
these studies, researchers either added supplemental levels of
estrogen/testosterone to rats or castrated/performed ovariectomies in males
and females rats, respectively. The studies found that estrogen helped to
protect against kidney disease while testosterone proved to be detrimental
to kidney health.
More recently, Dr. Sharon Silbiger of the Department of
Medicine/Division of Nephrology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore
Medical Center, Bronx, NY and her colleagues examined the direct effects of
estrogen on the production of collagens (proteins that contribute to kidney
scarring) in the cells located around the small blood vessels of the kidneys
(cultured mesangial cells). She and her colleagues found that:
-
the female hormone estradiol inhibited the activity of
transforming growth factor (TGF-β); TGF-β promotes scarring of the
kidney in many renal diseases.
-
estradiol does this by preventing TGF-β from activating
the enzyme (casein kinase 2) which affects collagen production.
-
in this way estrogen reduces the production of collagen in
these cultured cells and may reduce scarring in renal disease.
Looking Ahead: Raloxifene and Renal Disease
Silbiger’s group is currently analyzing data from a
clinical study of the osteoporosis prevention drug, raloxifene. As
raloxifene has estrogen-like properties, the researchers hypothesized that
raloxifene may affect the progression of renal disease in these women.
Broad-based preliminary data from this study will be presented at the APS
meeting, but more specific data will be held until the study results are
published.
Presentation in Austin, TX
Dr. Silbiger is discussing her work at the conference,
Sex and Gender in Cardiovascular-Renal Physiology and
Pathophysiology, being held August 9-12, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency
Austin on Town Lake, Austin, TX. The meeting is the second scientific event
to be sponsored by the American Physiological Society (APS;
www.The-APS.org) this year.
***
The
American Physiological Society (APS) has been an integral part of the
scientific discovery process since it was established in 1887. Physiology
is the study of how molecules, cells, tissues and organs function to create
health or disease.
# # #
NOTE TO EDITORS: The APS meeting is being held
August 9-12, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Austin on Town Lake, Austin, TX.
Members of the media are invited to attend the sessions. To schedule an
interview with Dr. Silbiger, please contact Donna Krupa at
301.634.7209 (direct dial), 703.967.2751 (cell) or
DKrupa@the-APS.org.
|
