Molecular factors predicting steroid resistance in pediatric nephrotic syndrome

Objectives: the objective of this paper was to study the levels of cellular hypoxia, apoptosis controlling factors in children with steroid-sensitive and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome. Background: patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) represent a challenging subset of patients with nephrotic syndrome who often fail standard immunosuppression and have a higher likelihood of progressing to end-stage renal disease. The search of the biochemical markers undergoing the steroid-resistance is under urgent need. Methods: an examination of kidney biopsies and blood of 56 patients (aged 10 to 15 years) with nephrotic syndrome was done. Conventional clinical investigations, immunohistochemistry, immunoblotting were used in this study. Results: patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome show an increased level of HIF-1 alfa (a marker of cellular hypoxia) as compared to the control group and children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. Patients with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome show a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic marker BcL-xL as compared to the control group and children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome. Conclusion: hypoxia-induces disorders and apoptosis activation markers are considered to be included in the complex scheme predicting steroid-resistance in nephrotic children.