Blood Indoxyl Sulfate and TGF-β1 Protein and mRNA Levels in Chronic Kidney Disease: Updated Insights

Farhad  Nazarinasi; Siavash  Gerayeshnejad; Nasrin  Dashti; Khosrow  Rahbar

doi:10.18502/acta.v63i4.20170

Farhad Nazarinasi Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Siavash Gerayeshnejad Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Nasrin Dashti Department of Laboratory Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Khosrow Rahbar Department of Nephrology and Urology, Mehrad Hospital, Tehran, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v63i4.20170

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease (CKD); Indoxyl sulfate (IS); TGF-β1(Transforming growth factor-beta1) mRNA; Fibrosis; PBMCs (Peripheral blood mononuclear cells); Uremic toxins; Biomarkers

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by systemic inflammation and the accumulation of uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate (IS), which induces fibrogenic signaling via transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1). Forty CKD patients and ten healthy controls were enrolled. IS was measured by HPLC, TGF-β1 protein by ELISA, and TGF-β1 mRNA by RT-qPCR in PBMCs. IS and TGF-β1 mRNA levels increased significantly with CKD stage, particularly in stages 3 and 4. TGF-β1 mRNA correlated with IS levels (R=0.4, P<0.01), while TGF-β1 protein levels were associated with platelet count (R=0.817, P<0.001). TGF-β1 mRNA in PBMCs may serve as an early biomarker of CKD-related fibrosis. IS is a key uremic toxin influencing fibrogenic gene expression.