[99] Both hypertension and proteinuria are well-recognized major traditional risk factors for the progression

of CKD.[9] In addition to hypertension and proteinuria there is evidence that ADMA could be directly involved in the progression of CKD. Indeed, in rats with a unilateral nephrectomy ADMA administration for 8 weeks in one group and its comparison with the other group that did not receive any ADMA, provided the following results: (i) Increased ADMA levels in serum are related to increased renal oxidative stress, since elevated renal levels of superoxide anion (O2−) were also found.[78] (ii) ADMA administration had as a result the induction phosphatase inhibitor library of glomerular fibrosis (increase of synthesis of the intravascular substance), as well as vascular fibrosis, apparent by the increased collagen type I and II and fibronectin deposition.[78] (iii) learn more In rats receiving ADMA, a decrease of the peritubular capillary network was noted.[78] (iv) The mRNA expression of collagen type I and the renal concentration of TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-β1) were

higher in rats receiving ADMA.[78] (v) Elevated levels of TGF-β1 were correlated with the higher levels of angiotensin II as well as the increased expression of HIF-1a (hypoxia inducible factor-1a) and endothelin 1 (approximately thrice the normal levels).[78] There is evidence suggesting that chronic renal hypoxia may have an important role in the progression of tubulointersttial fibrosis in CKD,[100] and also the role of tubulointerstitial fibrosis is more important than glomerulosclerosis in terms of renal prognosis.[100, 101] The administration of a recombinant adenovirus vector, encoding DDAH-1 and resulting

in the increased expression of DDAH in rats with subtotal nephrectomy (5/6), the model that is currently considered as the most representative of kidney Etomidate disease in human,[92, 102] has led to the decrease of ADMA concentrations and has slowed the progression of kidney damage, since the tubulointerstitial fibrosis was contained. This occurred to a larger extent compared with the rats with nephrectomy that received hydralazine aimed at the restoration of their blood pressure, suggesting that there is a mechanism for the progression of kidney damage totally independent to arterial hypertension.[92] It is therefore suggested that the amelioration of ADMA levels has decreased the peritubularischaemia and lead to the decrease of TGF-β1 expression. Also in normal rats the chronic NOs inhabitation causes arterial hypertension and FSGS.[103] Two studies have determined that there is a faster deterioration of renal function in CKD patients presenting with high ADMA serum concentrations, suggesting that it may act as an independent prognostic marker for the progression of renal disease.