Efeito da Quitosana-Fe(III) reticulada sobre a calcificação vascular em um modelo de uremia

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) causes changes in the concentrations of phosphorus, calcium, vitamin D and parathyroid hormone. Cross-linked Iron(III) Chitosan (QST-Fe(III)R) is a phosphorus binder, with properties of reducing the hyperphosphatemia, the main inducer of vascular calcification (VC) in CKD. This polymer derived from chitin showed chelating action on phosphorus in vitro and in vivo. Objective: To evaluate the phosphorus chelating action of QST-Fe(III)R and its effect on VC in adenine-induced uremic rats. Methods: Normal and uremic rats, induced by adenine feeding (0.75% - 4 weeks and 0.10% - 3 weeks) and phosphorous 1%, were divided into 4 groups and treated daily with distilled water (10ml/kg/day); QST-Fe(III)R 30mg/kg/day; CaCO3 500mg/kg/day and sevelamer hydrochloride (Cl-Sev) 500mg/kg/day, for 4 weeks. Biochemical parameters were measured at the fourth and seventh week: creatinine (Cr), phosphorus (P) and serum calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (FA), PTH and FGF23. The Ca content of the abdominal aortic fragments was quantified and expressed as mg/g of aortic tissue. We evaluated vascular changes in the aortic arch and calcium deposition. Specific antibodies used to identify the expression of angiotensin II (AngioII) and alphasmooth muscle actin (α-actin) by immunohistochemical technique, in fragments of abdominal aorta at seventh week. Results: In uremic groups, we observed reduced kidney function and a maximum creatinine in the fourth week. The treatments did not alter CKD progression. The CKD group showed 35% higher phosphorus, compared to the control group. All treatments reduced approximately in 20% the serum phosphorus, and reduced the FeP (reduction of 20% to 30%). Treatments with QTSFe( III)R and CaCO3 were effective in reducing PTH and FA of uremic rats. We believe that treatment with Cl-Sev has not been effective due to methodological problems during drug administration. The CKD group presented aortic calcium content 80% higher than the control group and the QTS-Fe(III)R reduced the calcium content in the aorta, more than all other treatments. Compared to the control group, the QTS-Fe(III)R promotes the reduction expression of AngioII in aortic intima. The treatments did not show benefits over the media layer integrity when evaluating the α-actin expression. Conclusions: The experimental model showed important and sustained loss of renal function. The QTS-Fe(III)R showed efficiency similar to others phosporus binders already used in clinical practice and reduced the calcium content in the aorta.