Differential Gene Transcription in Monocytes from Chronic Kidney Disease and Healthy Patients

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the US. The prevalence of CKD currently is about 14%, or about 26 million people, and the number of deaths from CKD has doubled over the past 20 years. A significant number of CKD patients demonstrate accelerated cardiovascular disease (CVD). The importance of monocytes in development of CVD is well established. The purpose of the current pilot study was to compare gene transcription in monocytes from early stage CKD subjects with matched Healthy controls, focusing on genes linked to cardiovascular events. Our data support differential gene transcription in monocytes from CKD subjects, which translate to increased survivability, due in part to their reduced apoptotic signaling and increased membrane remodeling. CKD subject monocytes exhibited increased inflammatory signaling and oxidative stress compared with Healthy controls.