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Chronic Kidney Disease: Underlying Molecular Mechanisms—2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 698

Editors

Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Interests: inflammation; oxidative stress; cardiovascular risk factors; pre-eclampsia; chronic kidney disease; obesity
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Guest Editor
Faculty of Health Sciences, University Fernando Pessoa, Rua Carlos da Maia, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
Interests: toxicology; drugs of abuse; amphetamines; synthetic cathinones; psychoactive substances; toxicometabolomics; cancer metabolomics; biomarkers; hepatotoxicity; nephrotoxicity; cardiotoxicity; oxidative stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a pressing global health issue, warranting international attention. It is defined by the presence of structural or functional abnormalities in the kidneys persisting for at least three months. The global increase in CKD prevalence parallels rising human longevity and a growing burden of both traditional and non-traditional risk factors. In addition to well-known contributors such as obesity and diabetes, environmental factors (e.g., pesticides and heavy metals) are increasingly recognized as important drivers of CKD.

CKD is linked to substantial comorbidity and mortality and imposes significant economic burdens on healthcare systems worldwide. A deeper understanding of the disease’s underlying mechanisms is essential for developing effective preventive strategies and novel therapeutics aimed at delaying onset and progression. Moreover, insights into CKD pathophysiology are critical for identifying early biomarkers, which are key to timely clinical intervention.

This Special Issue seeks to highlight the latest research in the following areas:

  1. Molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of CKD and its comorbidities;
  2. Emerging methodological approaches, including omics technologies, to unravel CKD-related molecular pathways and discover novel biomarkers;
  3. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies for prevention;
  4. Mechanistic links between CKD and other health conditions, such as cancer.

We welcome your contributions to advance the understanding and management of CKD.

Dr. Luís Belo
Dr. Márcia Carvalho
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • chronic kidney disease
  • molecular mechanisms
  • toxicity mechanisms
  • inflammation
  • environmental factors

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

19 pages, 24103 KB  
Article
Indoxyl Sulfate Promotes Vascular Calcification in Association with Oxidative Stress and Activation of ERK and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathways
by Yi-Cheng Wang, I-Min Su, Chung-Jen Lee, Tsung-Jui Wu and Bang-Gee Hsu
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(16), 7314; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27167314 - 16 Aug 2026
Viewed by 151
Abstract
Vascular calcification (VC) is a major complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality. While indoxyl sulfate (IS), a protein-bound uremic toxin, has been implicated in the progression of VC, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated [...] Read more.
Vascular calcification (VC) is a major complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) that is strongly associated with cardiovascular mortality. While indoxyl sulfate (IS), a protein-bound uremic toxin, has been implicated in the progression of VC, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the procalcific effects of IS using a two-step nephrectomy-induced CKD mouse model and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. In vivo, progressive renal impairment was associated with elevated circulating IS levels and enhanced VC. In vitro, IS dose- and time-dependently induced calcium deposition, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and upregulated osteogenic markers, including runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), and osteocalcin (OCN), whereas N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) partially attenuated IS-induced ROS accumulation and cell injury. Mechanistically, IS exposure activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling while suppressing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-related antioxidant responses, as reflected by reductions in the phosphorylated Nrf2 (pNrf2) to total Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling attenuated IS-induced osteogenic responses. These findings indicate that IS promotes VC in association with increased oxidative stress, activation of ERK and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, and impaired Nrf2-related antioxidant defense. These integrated findings provide mechanistic insight into IS-associated VC and highlight oxidative stress-related signaling networks as potential therapeutic targets in CKD. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chronic Kidney Disease: Underlying Molecular Mechanisms—2nd Edition)
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