The commonest cause of kidney failure in children is due to toxin producing bacteria that enters the circulation through the gut resulting in a disease called Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS). There are different types of HUS – the most common is called Shiga toxin-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (STEC-HUS). As one of the most common causes of kidney problems in people of all ages, it can be particularly devastating in young children, often requiring kidney dialysis, with around one in 20 children developing life-long kidney failure or dying.
STEC-HUS commonly happens after a gut infection, associated with bloody diarrhoea. Exactly why the kidney is so susceptible to injury in STEC-HUS has until now, remained unclear. The research, funded by the Medical Research Council and Kidney Research UK and led by scientists from Bristol Renal, wanted to identify the mechanism underpinning the disease pathway.
Using laboratory models, the team found a specific cell in the kidney called the podocyte — which plays a crucial role in renal function — is targeted by the Shiga toxin and then ‘talks’ to local blood vessels causing small blood clots to form. This is due to the activation of the ‘complement’ pathway, and can lead to an eventual loss of kidney function.
Critically, the team demonstrated in both mouse models and in human kidney cells that STEC-HUS can be successfully treated by inhibiting the complement pathway early in the disease process with a drug called Eculizumab. The research team has demonstrated that early use of Eculizumab can prevent Shiga-toxin driven kidney failure and the drug has therapeutic potential for this devastating disease that can result in life-long dialysis, and death, for some children.
The next steps for the researchers will be to understand how quickly Eculizumab needs to be given and carry out more early trials in children with STEC-HUS.
Read the full University of Bristol news item
'Shiga toxin targets the podocyte causing Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome through endothelial complement activation' by Bowen et al. in Med [open access]