Oral supplementation with sulodexide inhibits neo-angiogenesis in a rat model of peritoneal perfusion

• Published in: Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 548 - 556
• Main Authors: PLETINCK, Anneleen, VAN LANDSCHOOT, Maria, STEPPAN, Sonja, LAUKENS, Debby, PASSLICK-DEETJEN, Jutta, VANHOLDER, Raymond, BIESEN, Wim Van
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.02.2012
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Analysis of Variance; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy, Needle; Dialysis Solutions - pharmacology; Disease Models, Animal; Emergency and intensive care: renal failure. Dialysis management; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Glycosaminoglycans - administration & dosage; Immunohistochemistry; Intensive care medicine; Medical sciences; Neovascularization, Pathologic - prevention & control; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nephropathies. Renovascular diseases. Renal failure; Peritoneal Dialysis - adverse effects; Peritoneal Dialysis - methods; Peritoneal Fibrosis - etiology; Peritoneal Fibrosis - prevention & control; Peritoneum - drug effects; Peritoneum - pathology; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reference Values; Renal failure; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - drug effects; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism; Kidney disease; Urinary system disease; Rat; Hemodialysis; angiogenesis; peritoneal membrane; Rodentia; Oral administration; Sulodexide; Peritoneal dialysis; Extrarenal dialysis; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Fibrosis; Renal failure; Glycosaminoglycan; Supplementation; Antilipemic agent
• ISSN: 0931-0509; 1460-2385
• DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfr370

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is associated with functional and morphological alterations of the peritoneal membrane (PM). It is hypothesized that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a role in this process. Sulodexide is a glycosaminoglycan with effects on vascular biology. Therefore, the impact of oral sulodexide on PM function and morphology in a rat model of peritoneal perfusion was evaluated. Rats received 10 mL peritoneal dialysate fluid (PDF) twice daily via a tunnelled PD catheter. The test-PD group (Sul) received 15 mg/kg/day oral sulodexide versus none in the control-PD group (Con). A third group received no PDF (Sham). After 12 weeks, a peritoneal equilibration test was performed and the PM was sampled. Neo-angiogenesis was evaluated using immunostaining with von Willebrand, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) using co-localization of cytokeratin and α-smooth muscle actin. VEGF was determined in the dialysate by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. PD induced loss of ultrafiltration, also in the sulodexide group. Creatinine and glucose transport were better preserved, and sodium dip was more pronounced in the sulodexide group versus control. Submesothelial thickness, neo-angiogenesis and EMT were more pronounced in the Con versus Sul versus Sham group. VEGF in the dialysate, corrected for diffusion was higher in Con and Sul versus Sham. Oral sulodexide administration diminishes neo-vascularization, submesothelial thickening and EMT induced by exposure to PDF in a rat model. As there was no difference in VEGF at the protein level in the dialysate, we hypothesize that oral sulodexide inhibits VEGF locally by binding.