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Blood mutations increase susceptibility to acute kidney injury: Study, ET HealthWorld

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Blood mutations enhance risk of acute kidney injury: Research, ET HealthWorld

In a groundbreaking study led by Vanderbilt University Medical Center, researchers have identified age-related blood changes as a risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI), a condition that affects more than 20% of hospitalized individuals globally. Published in Nature Medicine, this discovery could lead to new and more effective treatments for AKI, ultimately preventing its progression to end-stage renal disease.

The focus of the study was on clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), which are somatic mutations in blood stem cells that can cause abnormal cell growth. This condition affects 10-20% of individuals aged 65 and older and is associated with a 40% increased risk of death from various diseases. The study found a strong association between CHIP and AKI, particularly in the older population.

Researchers emphasized that while chronic inflammation caused by CHIP is commonly linked to chronic diseases, the impact of CHIP on acute inflammation was surprising. Through rigorous investigation, the team uncovered the mechanisms by which CHIP contributes to AKI and potential ways to address this risk.

The study, led by Dr. Caitlyn Vlasschaert from Queens University in Canada, involved a meta-analysis of more than 440,000 individuals in the UK Biobank and two long-term US studies. It revealed that mutations in genes other than DNMT3A, such as Tet2 and Jak2, were associated with a higher risk of AKI. Further experiments in mouse models confirmed the link between CHIP mutations and severe AKI outcomes.

The researchers concluded that targeting the innate immune system’s elements involved in inflammation could help mitigate the risk of AKI in individuals with CHIP. The collaborative effort between US and Canadian researchers has shed new light on the relationship between age-related blood changes, CHIP, and AKI, offering hope for improved treatments in the future.

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