Kidney Development Challenges in Newborns: A New Study

Some newborns are born with an insufficient number of nephrons, which are the kidneys’ filtering units that assist the body in eliminating toxins and extra fluid. A lifetime of difficulties, including high blood pressure and chronic renal disease, is more likely for newborns born with incorrect kidney development, whether as a result of low birth weight, maternal diabetes, inadequate nutrition, or inheritance.

A chemical required for healthy kidney development has been found in a Tulane University study that was recently published in Nature Communications. Additionally, a supplement that may guarantee healthy kidney growth in growing fetuses has also been identified.

The substance acetyl-CoA, which is produced when the body breaks down glucose, is essential for the growth of nephron progenitor cells (NPCs), or “kidney stem cells,” which are the cells that give rise to nephrons. Insufficient production of nephrons results in aberrant kidney development when acetyl-CoA levels are low.

“This intricate mechanism regulates kidney development and ensures that mothers will deliver healthy babies, who will develop into healthy adults,” said Gio Tortelote, Ph.D., corresponding author and assistant professor in Tulane University School of Medicine’s Department of Pediatrics. “This knowledge can help craft new public health guidelines and therapies aimed at securing proper fetal development.”

An inadequate number of functional nephrons is the hallmark of chronic kidney disease, which affects around 30 million adult Americans. Kidney failure can also contribute to the development of high blood pressure, which is the world’s largest avoidable risk factor for early death.

Although adult hypertension has been directly associated with defective kidney development, the underlying reasons are still mostly unclear. While genetic variables were the main focus of previous research, this study brought attention to the significance of cell metabolism and proper nutrition for mothers.

“Chronic kidney disease affects 15% of U.S. adults and high blood pressure affects approximately 35%,” Tortelote said. “Identifying substances that affect fetal development holds significant societal importance.”

The study discovered that giving pregnant women sodium acetate supplements may promote the development of the fetal nephron. Once within cells, sodium acetate is transformed into acetyl-CoA. The study demonstrated that sodium acetate enhanced the pool of NPCs in a mouse model.

To determine if sodium acetate can be a useful supplement for pregnant women, pre-clinical research is required. To learn more about how cell metabolism might affect gene activity throughout kidney development, more study is also required.

“This knowledge can directly translate into actionable measures to counteract abnormal fetal development and reduce health risks later in life,” Tortelote said.

For more information: Acetyl-CoA is a key molecule for nephron progenitor cell pool maintenance, Nature Communications, https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-43513-7