Glycocalyx and Oxidative Stress in Endothelial Function (Part 1)

The Role of Glycocalyx and Oxidative Stress in Endothelial Function (Part 1)

The primary research objective of the project is to determine the role of eGC in microvascular reactivity in CKD (cross-sectional study 1).

The main objective of the project is to increase the excellence and interdisciplinarity of scientific work at MEFOS by connecting researchers from different scientific fields, improving conditions and resources for scientific work, and increasing international cooperation, in line with strategic objective 1: raising scientific excellence. The results of the project could provide pathophysiological insight into the development and maintenance of endothelial dysfunction in CKD, as well as identify new biomarkers for CKD.

The primary objective of this project is to determine the role of endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) in impaired microvascular endothelium-dependent reactivity in patients with chronic kidney disease compared to healthy and hypertensive patients without complications (cross-sectional study 1).

Specific objective 1.1: Measure the reactivity of the peripheral microcirculation (using a laser Doppler blood flow meter) and the thickness of eGC (using Glycocheck) in the specified groups.

Specific objective 1.2: Quantify soluble markers of eGC, oxidative stress, and inflammation from serum samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), as well as antioxidant capacity in the specified groups.

Specific objective 1.3: Determine the relationship between the results of functional tests, eGC, and markers from specific objective 1.2.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with CKD of hypertensive etiology (grades 1-2 and 3-5; eGFR CKD-EPI GFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m², i.e. < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), non-diabetics, non-smokers
• patients with hypertension (according to ESH2023 Guidelines) without kidney damage (eGFR CKD-EPI >90 mL/min/1.73 m2) non-diabetics, non-smokers
• healthy volunteer subjects as controls

Exclusion Criteria:

• kidney disease of any other etiology except hypertension
• endocrine, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases that could affect kidney function.
• smoking
• diabetes