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Background: Evaluation of renal function and of factors associated with its decline are important public health issues. Besides markers of glomerular function [e.g. glomerular filtration rate (GFR)], those of tubular functions are rarely evaluated. Urea, the most abundant urinary solute, is markedly concentrated in urine when compared with plasma. We explored the urine-to-plasma ratio of urea concentrations (U/P urea ratio) as a marker of tubular functions., Methods: We evaluated the relationship of the U/P urea ratio with eGFR at baseline in 1043 participants (48 ± 17 years) from the Swiss Kidney Project on Genes in Hypertension (SKIPOGH) population-based cohort, using mixed regression. In 898 participants, we assessed the relation between U/P urea ratio and renal function decline between two study waves 3 years apart. We studied U/P ratios for osmolarity, Na, K and uric acid for comparison., Results: In a transversal study at baseline, estimated GFR (eGFR) was positively associated with U/P-urea ratio [βscaled = 0.08, 95% CI (0.04; 0.13)] but not with the U/P ratio of osmolarity. Considering separately participants with renal function >90 or ≤90 mL/min × 1.73 m2, this association was observed only in those with reduced renal function. In the longitudinal study, eGFR declined at a mean rate of 1.2 mL/min per year. A significant association was observed between baseline U/P urea ratio and eGFR decline [βscaled = 0.08, 95% CI (0.01; 0.15)]. A lower baseline U/P urea ratio was associated with a greater eGFR decline., Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the U/P urea ratio is an early marker of kidney function decline in the general adult population. Urea is easy to measure with well-standardized techniques and at low cost. Thus, the U/P urea ratio could become an easily available tubular marker for evaluating renal function decline., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the ERA.)

Background: Copeptin and intact fibroblast growth factor 23 (iFGF23) increase early during chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may be predictive of unfavourable outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate their respective associations with renal and vital outcomes in CKD patients., Methods: We included CKD patients from the NephroTest cohort with concomitant measurements of plasma copeptin and iFGF23 concentrations and isotopic glomerular filtration rate measurement (mGFR). The primary endpoint was a composite outcome including kidney failure (KF) (dialysis initiation, pre-emptive transplantation or a 57% decrease of mGFR, corresponding to doubling of serum creatinine) or death before KF. Hazard ratios (HRs) of the primary endpoint associated with log-transformed copeptin and iFGF23 concentrations were estimated by Cox models. The slope of mGFR over time was analysed using a linear mixed model., Results: A total of 329 CKD patients (243 men, mean age 60.3 ± 14.6 years) were included. Among them, 301 with an mGFR >15 ml/min/1.73 m 2 were included in survival and mGFR slope analyses. During a median follow-up of 4.61 years (quartile 1-quartile 3: 3.72-6.07), 61 KFs and 32 deaths occurred. Baseline iFGF23 concentrations were associated with the composite outcome after multiple adjustments {HR 2.72 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.85-3.99]}, whereas copeptin concentrations were not [HR 1.01 (95% CI 0.74-1.39)]. Neither copeptin nor iFGF23 were associated with mGFR slope over time., Conclusion: Our study shows for the first time in population of CKD patients an independent association between iFGF23 and unfavourable renal and vital outcomes and shows no such association regarding copeptin, encouraging the integration of iFGF23 measurement into the follow-up of CKD., Competing Interests: M.C. received consulting fees from Withings, Home Biosciences, Usense, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Advicenne and Viatris and a grant from BioHealth Laboratory over the 3 years prior to submission. The other authors have no conflicts of interest. The results presented in this article have not been published previously in whole or part., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the ERA.)

The adverse effects of vasopressin (AVP) in diverse forms of chronic kidney disease have been well described. They depend on the antidiuretic action of AVP mediated by V2 receptors (V2R). Tolvaptan, a selective V2R antagonist, is now largely used for the treatment of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Another way to reduce the adverse effects of AVP is to reduce endogenous AVP secretion by a voluntary increase in fluid intake. These two approaches differ in several ways, including the level of thirst and AVP. With voluntary increased drinking, plasma osmolality will decline and so will AVP secretion. Thus, not only will V2R-mediated effects be reduced, but also those mediated by V1a and V1b receptors (V1aR and V1bR). In contrast, selective V2R antagonism will induce a loss of fluid that will stimulate AVP secretion and thus increase AVP's influence on V1a and V1b receptors. V1aR is expressed in the luminal side of the collecting duct (CD) and in inner medullary interstitial cells, and their activation induces the production of prostaglandins, mostly prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Intrarenal PGE2 has been shown to reduce sodium and water reabsorption in the CD and increase blood flow in the renal medulla, both effects contributing to increase sodium and water excretion and reduce urine-concentrating activity. Conversely, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to induce significant water and sodium retention and potentiate the antidiuretic effects of AVP. Thus, during V2R antagonism, V1aR-mediated actions may be responsible for part of the diuresis observed with this drug. These V1aR-dependent effects do not take place with a voluntary increase in fluid intake. In summary, while both strategies may have beneficial effects, the information reviewed here leads us to assume that pharmacological V2R antagonism, with resulting stimulation of V1aR and increased PGE2 production, may provide greater benefit than voluntary high water intake. The influence of tolvaptan on the PGE2 excretion rate and the possibility to use somewhat lower tolvaptan doses than presently prescribed remain to be evaluated., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the ERA.)

Background: Optimal daily water intake to prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression is unknown. Taking the kidney's urine-concentrating ability into account, we studied the relation of kidney outcomes in patients with CKD to total and plain water intake and urine volume., Methods: Including 1265 CKD patients [median age 69 years; mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 32 mL/min/1.73 m2] from the Chronic Kidney Disease-Renal Epidemiology and Information Network cohort (2013-19), we assessed fluid intake at baseline interviews, collected 24-h urine volumes and estimated urine osmolarity (eUosm). Using Cox and then linear mixed models, we estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for kidney failure and eGFR decline associated with hydration markers, adjusting for CKD progression risk factors and eUosm., Results: Patients' median daily intake was 2.0 L [interquartile range (IQR) 1.6-2.6] for total water and 1.5 L (1-1.7) for plain water, median urine volume was 1.9 L/24 h (IQR 1.6-2.4) and mean eUosm was 374 ± 104 mosm/L. Neither total water intake nor urine volume was associated with either kidney outcome. Kidney failure risk increased significantly with decreasing eUosm ˂292 mosm/L. Adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for kidney failure associated with plain water intake were 1.88 (1.02-3.47), 1.59 (1.06-2.38), 1.76 (0.95-3.24) and 1.55 (1.03-2.32) in patients drinking <0.5, 0.5-1.0, 1.5-2.0 and >2.0 L/day compared with those drinking 1.0-1.5  L/day. High plain water intake was also significantly associated with faster eGFR decline., Conclusions: In patients with CKD, the relation between plain water intake and progression to kidney failure appears to be U-shaped. Both low and high intake may not be beneficial in CKD., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the ERA.)

Context: Experimental data support a role for vasopressin in metabolic disorders., Objective: We investigated associations of plasma copeptin, a surrogate of vasopressin, and of allelic variations in the arginine vasopressin-neurophysin II gene with insulin secretion, insulin sensitivity, and the risk for impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)., Design, Setting, and Participants: We studied 5110 unrelated French men and women from a prospective cohort of the general population (Data from Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome cohort, 9-y follow-up). Six single nucleotide polymorphisms were genotyped., Main Outcome Measure: Incidence of IFG or T2DM during follow-up., Results: The incidence of hyperglycemia (IFG/T2DM) during follow-up by quartiles of baseline plasma copeptin was 11.0% (Q1), 14.5% (Q2), 17.0% (Q3), and 23.5% (Q4), log-rank test P = .003. Participants in the upper quartile of plasma copeptin had significantly lower insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment index) at baseline and during follow-up, as compared with other participants. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses showed significant associations of the CC genotype of rs6084264, the TT genotype of rs2282018, the C-allele of rs2770381, and the CC genotype of rs1410713 with the incidence of hyperglycemia. The genotypes associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia were also associated with increased plasma copeptin in men but not in women., Conclusions: High plasma copeptin was associated with reduced insulin sensitivity and an increased risk for IFG/T2DM diabetes in this community-based cohort. Moreover, in men, allelic associations support a causal role for vasopressin in these disorders.

Context: Vasopressin plays a central role in water homeostasis but it has also been recognized to be associated with adverse effects in several chronic diseases. Recently, copeptin has been increasingly used as a surrogate for vasopressin, as they are co-secreted, and copeptin is easier to measure. However, the relationship between plasma concentrations of copeptin (P(cop)) and vasopressin (P(vp)) has only been studied in relatively small numbers of selected people., Objective: This study sought to evaluate the relationship between P(vp) and P(cop) in a community-based population and in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD)., Design, Setting, and Participants: P(vp), P(cop), and urinary osmolarity (Uosm) were compared in 500 participants of the DESIR study, and in 83 ambulatory people with CKD., Results: Median [interquartile range] of P(cop) and P(vp) in the DESIR study were 4.13 [3.58] pmol/L and 0.92 [1.93] pmol/L, respectively. Log-transformed P(cop) and P(vp) concentrations correlated significantly and positively (r = 0.686, P < .001) and they correlated inversely with estimated U(osm) (P < .001). Copeptin explained only approximately half of the vasopressin variation. In CKD, P(cop) and P(vp) both increased with decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but P(cop) increased much faster than P(vp). The P(cop)/P(vp) ratios in the lower and upper quintile groups of eGFR were 14.3 [18.3] and 5.3 [4.5], P < .001, respectively., Conclusions: This study in a normal population, the largest ever with measurements of both peptides, shows that copeptin and vasopressin concentrations correlated well. But their relationship is distorted in CKD, suggesting that the peptide clearances differ when the renal function is impaired.

Introduction: An impaired Na and water excretion rate during daytime is associated with increased cardiovascular risk factors. Recent findings suggest that disturbed circadian rhythms may play an important role in salt-sensitive hypertension and reduced β-cell function., Methods: This study investigated clinical implications of the circadian pattern of urine excretion [evaluated as the day to night ratio of urine flow rate (D/N of V)] in 76 patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) not taking diuretics. We analyzed 24-h urinary excretion and blood pressure (BP) during separate day and night periods. In addition nondiabetic patients (n = 46 of 76) underwent an oral glucose tolerance test., Results: The D/N of V varied largely among subjects (tertile 1 = 1.95 ± 0.40, tertile 3 = 0.67 ± 0.14). In the patients with low D/N of V, systolic BP dipped less at night, independently of age and creatinine clearance (P < 0.01). During the first 60 min of the oral glucose tolerance test, the rise in plasma insulin and the insulinogenic index were positively correlated with the D/N of V, even after adjustment for age, waist circumference, 24-h urine volume, and BP (P < 0.001 for both), suggesting inadequate insulin secretion in poor daytime excretors., Conclusion: In patients with MS, a disturbed circadian pattern of urine excretion is associated with a reduced nocturnal dipping of systolic BP and a reduced glucose-induced insulin secretion. These results underline the clinical importance of impaired circadian rhythms in MS and prompt further studies to evaluate the potential of the D/N of V as a prognostic marker in MS patients.

Background: Mutations in Tamm-Horsfall protein (THP), also known as uromodulin, lead to a group of diseases known as the uromodulin storage disorders. Clinically, these diseases present with tubulo-interstitial damage, progressive renal dysfunction, hyperuricaemia, and gout. However, it remains unclear how a mutation in THP, a protein produced in the thick ascending limb, can cause hyperuricaemia when most of the uric acid transport is believed to occur in the proximal tubule. However, one study in humans suggests that uric acid could also be secreted in the distal tubule. Thus, an attractive hypothesis could be that THP would bind to uric acid in the distal tubule, and decrease its subsequent reabsorption in the distal nephron., Methods: We screened for uric acid binding to THP using four independent binding assays., Results: There was no evidence that uric acid could bind to THP., Conclusion: THP-uric acid binding does not seem to play a significant role in the regulation of urate homeostasis.

Background: Cerebral disorders caused by brain oedema characterize the dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, a complication of rapid haemodialysis. Brain oedema is presumably caused by the 'reverse urea effect', i.e. the significant urea gradient between blood and brain after dialysis, with, as a result, an inflow of water into the brain. To assess the molecular basis of this effect, we examined the expression of urea transporter UT-B1 and aquaporin (AQP) 4 and AQP9 in the brain of uraemic rats., Methods: Brain, kidneys and one testis were collected from four sham-operated (control) and four uraemic rats, 10 weeks after 5/6 nephrectomy (Nx). Protein abundance was measured by semi-quantitave immunoblotting using affinity-purified rabbit anti-rat antibodies applied on tissue crude homogenates., Results: The results are expressed as means+/-SE of band density (arbitrary units). In Nx compared with control rats, the brain expression of UT-B1 was reduced by half (32+/-3 vs 62+/-8, P<0.01) whereas that of AQ4 was doubled (251+/-13 vs 135+/-5, P<0.001), and that of AQP9 increased by 65% (253+/-22 vs 154+/-10, P<0.01). UT-B1 expression was also lowered by Nx in kidney medulla (45+/-21 vs 141+/-4, P<0.01) but was unchanged in testis., Conclusions: The conjunction of a reduced expression of UT-B and an increased expression of AQPs in brain cells may bring a new clue to understanding the DDS mechanism. Because of low UT-B abundance, urea exit from astrocytes is most probably delayed during rapid removal of extracellular urea through fast dialysis. This creates an osmotic driving force that promotes water entry into the cells (favoured by abundant AQPs) and subsequent brain swelling.

Background: Vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone, is elevated in diabetes mellitus (DM). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the V(2) receptor-mediated actions of vasopressin contribute to the albuminuria of diabetes., Methods: Fourteen adult male Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced DM were treated over 9 weeks with a selective, non-peptide, orally active V(2) receptor antagonist (SR 121463) and were compared to 14 untreated diabetic rats (control). The dose of antagonist was adapted in order to maintain urine osmolality close to plasma osmolality, but not to induce the formation of hypoosmotic urine. Every second week, urine was collected in metabolic cages for two 24 h periods., Results: Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) rose regularly and significantly with time in the untreated control group, whereas it did not rise in treated rats. Interestingly, a variable pattern of UAE increase over time was observed in different rats of the control group. Some rats exhibited pronounced progression of albuminuria with time, while others showed no or only a very modest rise. An a posteriori partition of the control group into 'progressors' and 'non-progressors' revealed that progressors had more intense urinary concentrating activity, higher creatinine clearance and larger relative glomerular mesangial area than the other subgroup., Conclusions: This study shows that V(2) receptor-mediated actions of vasopressin play a critical role in the albuminuria of diabetes. It also reveals that individual rats, like humans, seem to exhibit an unequal susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy, or at least to albuminuria, a factor considered to be one of its early manifestations.

Background: An increase in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) represents an early predictor of glomerular damage in diabetes mellitus (DM) and a risk factor for cardiovascular complications in hypertension. Vasopressin is elevated in DM and in some forms of hypertension. Previous studies in rats suggested that this hormone could play a role in the albuminuria observed in chronic renal failure or diabetic nephropathy, but no information is available concerning the mechanism of these effects and the possible influence of vasopressin on UAE in the healthy kidney. The present study was thus designed to evaluate whether vasopressin influences UAE in normal rats and humans, whether this effect is V(2)-receptor-dependent, and whether it is mediated by the renin-angiotensin system., Methods: UAE was measured in normal Wistar rats and healthy humans, or in subjects with various forms of diabetes insipidus (DI), before and after acute or chronic infusion of the vasopressin V(2) receptor agonist dDAVP. Chronic dDAVP administration was also performed in normal Wistar rats previously submitted to either chronic angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI) or chronic blockade of AT1 receptors (ARB)., Results: In rats, acute or chronic dDAVP infusion increased UAE significantly and reversibly (4-fold and 6-fold, respectively). In healthy subjects, acute infusion of dDAVP tripled UAE (P<0.01) but did not change creatinine and beta(2)-microglobulin excretion, thus suggesting that the rise in UAE was due to an increased glomerular leakage of albumin. dDAVP also increased UAE in patients with central DI and in patients with hereditary nephrogenic DI bearing AQP2 mutations. However, UAE was not increased in patients with hereditary nephrogenic DI bearing mutations of the V(2) receptor. In rats, ACEI and ARB blunted the dDAVP-induced rise in UAE by 70% (P<0.05) and 50% (NS), respectively., Conclusions: The present studies reveal for the first time that vasopressin induces a marked increase in UAE in healthy rats and humans. This albuminuric effect seems to result from increased glomerular leakage, requires functional vasopressin V(2) receptors, and is, at least in part, mediated by the renin-angiotensin system. These results bring additional support for an involvement of vasopressin in the albuminuria observed in pathological states such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension.

Background: In a previous study we observed that acute administration of the selective antagonist of vasopressin (AVP) V2 receptors, SR 121463A (SR), aggravated the symptoms of diabetes insipidus (DI) in homozygous Brattleboro rats (an AVP-deficient strain). The present study investigates in more details the acute and chronic effects of SR in DI rats., Methods and Results: In experiment A, different groups of rats received acute i.p. injections of SR (0.001-10 mg/kg) or vehicle alone, and urine was collected for the next 24 h. SR dose-dependently increased urine flow rate and decreased urine osmolality with no significant change in solute excretion, thus confirming a pure 'aquaretic' effect. In experiments B and C, the chronic effects of orally administered SR were evaluated over 8 days in Brattleboro DI rats (experiment B, 1 mg/kg/day) and in adult Sprague-Dawley rats with normal AVP secretion (experiment C, 3 mg/kg/day). In DI rats, the aquaretic effects of SR persisted with the same intensity over the 8 days. In Sprague-Dawley rats, SR induced a sustained, stable aquaretic effect and also increased non-renal water losses, suggesting an effect of AVP on water conservation in extrarenal sites. Because oxytocin (OT) synthesis is elevated in DI rats and OT is known to bind to V2 receptors, we evaluated the antidiuretic effects of OT in DI rats in experiment D. Chronic infusion of OT (3 microg/kg/h, i.p.) induced a marked antidiuresis, and acute SR (1 mg/kg) in OT-treated DI rats completely abolished this antidiuretic effect, thus indicating that it was due to binding of OT to V2 receptors., Conclusion: (i) SR is a potent orally active aquaretic and induces stable effects during 1 week in rats with or without endogenous AVP secretion. (ii) Significant V2 receptor-mediated water reabsorption occurs in collecting ducts of Brattleboro DI rats because their usual urine osmolality is about twofold higher than the minimum observed during SR-induced maximum diuresis. (iii) This V2 agonism could be mediated in part by OT binding to V2 receptors. Small amounts of endogenous AVP, known to be produced by adrenal and testis in DI rats, could also contribute to this V2 agonism, as well as a possible constitutive activation of the V2 receptors. (iv) In normal rats, AVP probably reduces water losses through extrarenal sites, probably the lungs.