Beyond a Measure of Liver Function—Bilirubin Acts as a Potential Cardiovascular Protector in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Der-Cherng Tarng¹  Ming-Tsun Tsai¹ 

[1] Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan;

关键词: antioxidant;    bilirubin;    cardiovascular disease;    chronic kidney disease;    oxidative stress;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms20010117

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Bilirubin is a well-known neurotoxin in newborn infants; however, current evidence has shown that a higher serum bilirubin concentration in physiological ranges is associated with a lower risk for the development and progression of both chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adults. The protective mechanisms of bilirubin in CVD, CKD, and associated mortality may be ascribed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Bilirubin further improves insulin sensitivity, reduces low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and inhibits platelet activation in at-risk individuals. These effects are expected to maintain normal vascular homeostasis and thus reduce the incidence of CKD and the risks of cardiovascular complications and death. In this review, we highlight the recent advances in the biological actions of bilirubin in the pathogenesis of CVD and CKD progression, and further propose that targeting bilirubin metabolism could be a potential approach to ameliorate morbidity and mortality in CKD patients.

【 授权许可】

Unknown