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OBJECTIVE: To use RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to characterize renal transcriptional activities of genes associated with proinflammatory and profibrotic pathways in ischemia-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats. SAMPLES: Banked renal tissues from 6 cats with experimentally induced CKD (renal ischemia [RI] group) and 9 healthy cats (control group). PROCEDURES: Transcriptome analysis with RNAseq, followed by gene ontology and cluster analyses, were performed on banked tissue samples of the right kidneys (control kidneys) from cats in the control group and of both kidneys from cats in the RI group, in which unilateral (right) RI had been induced 6 months before the cats were euthanized and the ischemic kidneys (IKs) and contralateral nonischemic kidneys (CNIKs) were harvested. Results for the IKs, CNIKs, and control kidneys were compared to identify potential differentially expressed genes and overrepresented proinflammatory and profibrotic pathways. RESULTS: Genes from the gene ontology pathways of collagen binding (eg, transforming growth factor-ß1), metalloendopeptidase activity (eg, metalloproteinase [MMP]-7, MMP-9, MMP-11, MMP-13, MMP-16, MMP-23B, and MMP-28), chemokine activity, and T-cell migration were overrepresented as upregulated in tissue samples of the IKs versus control kidneys. Genes associated with the extracellular matrix (eg, TIMP-1, fibulin-1, secreted phosphoprotein-1, matrix Gla protein, and connective tissue growth factor) were upregulated in tissue samples from both the IKs and CNIKs, compared with tissues from the control kidneys. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Unilateral ischemic injury differentially altered gene expression in both kidneys, compared with control kidneys. Fibulin-1, secreted phosphoprotein-1, and matrix Gla protein may be candidate biomarkers of active kidney injury in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To characterize transcription of profibrotic mediators in renal tissues of cats with ischemia-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD). SAMPLE Banked renal tissues from 6 cats with experimentally induced CKD (Rl group) and 8 healthy control cats. PROCEDURES For cats of the Rl group, both kidneys were harvested 6 months after ischemia was induced for 90 minutes in I kidney. For control cats, the right kidney was evaluated. All kidney specimens were histologically examined for fibrosis, inflammation, and tubular atrophy. Renal tissue homogenates underwent reverse transcription quantitative PCR assay evaluation to characterize gene transcription of hypoxia-inducible fa c to r-la (H IF - la), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase- l (TIMP-I), transforming growth factor-|3l, and vascular endothelial growth factor A. Gene transcription and histologic lesions were compared among ischemic and contralateral kidneys of the Rl group and control kidneys. RESULTS Ischemic kidneys had greater transcript levels of MMP-7, MMP-9, and transforming growth factor-pi relative to control kidneys and of MMP-2 relative to contralateral kidneys. Transcription of TIMP-I was upregulated and that of vascular endothelial growth factor A was downregulated in ischemic and contralateral kidneys relative to control kidneys. Transcription of H IF - la did not differ among kidney groups. For ischemic kidneys, there were strong positive correlations between transcription of H IF - lα, MMP-2, MMP-7, and TIMP-I and severity of fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Transcription of genes involved in profibrotic pathways remained altered in both kidneys 6 months after transient renal ischemia. This suggested that a single unilateral renal insult can have lasting effects on both kidneys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]