Scientists from Singapore have discovered a possible dietary supplement that could improve recovery after acute kidney injury (AKI). The finding, published in the Journal of Lipid Research, is the result of a long-running research program at Duke-NUS Medical School investigating how cells take up a specialized omega-3 lipid called LPC-DHA.
AKI: A Global Health Concern
A major public health concern, AKI affects an estimated 13.3 million people globally each year and has a mortality rate of 20 to 50 percent depending on the economic status of the country and stage of the disease. One of the main causes of AKI is ischemic reperfusion injury, which occurs when the kidney’s blood supply is restored after a period of restricted blood flow and poor oxygen delivery due to illness, injury, or surgical intervention. In particular, it damages a crucial part of the kidney called the S3 proximal tubules that regulate the levels of absorption of water and soluble substances, including salts.
Key Findings and Implications
“AKI is a serious health problem with limited treatment options,” said Dr Randy Loke, first author of the study and an MD-PhD student with Duke-NUS’ Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders (CVMD) Programme. “We sought to understand how these tubules repair themselves and found that the activity of the protein Mfsd2a, which transports LPC-DHA into cells, is a key factor influencing the rate of recovery of kidney function after ischemic reperfusion injury.”
In their study, the researchers discovered that preclinical models with reduced levels of Mfsd2a showed delayed recovery, increased damage, and inflammation after kidney injury. However, when these models were treated with LPC-DHA, their kidney function improved and the damage was reduced. LPC-DHA also restored the structure of the S3 proximal tubules, helping them function properly again.
“While more research is needed, the potential of LPC-DHA as a dietary supplement is exciting for future recipients who have suffered from AKI,” said Professor David Silver, the senior author of the study and Deputy Director of the CVMD Programme. “As our results suggest that LPC-DHA could become a safe and effective treatment that offers lifelong protection, its potential can help protect the kidneys and aid in recovery for these individuals.”
Future Research Directions
In the next phase, the research team plans to continue investigating the beneficial functions of LPC in the kidney and are aiming to initiate clinical testing of LPC supplements to determine their effectiveness in improving renal function and recovery following AKI in patients.
They also plan to continue their investigations of the protein Mfsd2a to learn more about its role in LPC transport and its involvement in diseases affecting other tissues and organs. Previous research by Prof Silver’s group, with collaborators from other institutions, have already highlighted the significance of the protein’s LPC-transporting activities in diseases of other organs, including the liver, lungs, and brain.
Reference: “Mfsd2a-mediated lysolipid transport is important for renal recovery after acute kidney injury” by Randy Y.J. Loke, Cheen Fei Chin, Gao Liang, Bernice H. Wong, Dwight L.A. Galam, Bryan C. Tan, Geok-Lin Chua, Shintaro Minegishi, Norihiko Morisawa, Iulia Sidorov, Bram Heijs, Jens Titze, Markus R. Wenk, Federico Torta and David L. Silver, 17 July 2023, Journal of Lipid Research.
DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100416
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