Identification of cardiac and renal biomarkers by vibrational spectroscopy during the transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

• Grant number: 25/21517-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2026
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology - Cytology and Cell Biology
• Principal Investigator: Marcela Sorelli Carneiro Ramos
• Grantee: Alice Rezende de Castro Sousa
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 24/02928-5 - Cardiac shifting from structural changes to electrical alterations during acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease transition., AP.TEM

Abstract

Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a complex, multifactorial clinical condition characterized by a bidirectional interaction between the heart and kidneys, in which acute or chronic dysfunction of one organ compromises the function of the other. This interrelationship represents one of the greatest challenges in contemporary clinical practice, being associated with high mortality, especially in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, in whom renal dysfunction occurs in more than half of cases. Despite advances in pathophysiological understanding, early detection of CRS remains limited by the lack of specific and sensitive biomarkers. Given this gap, the search for new biomarkers is critical. In this context, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) vibrational spectroscopy emerges as a promising technique because it is rapid, noninvasive, and highly sensitive to subtle biochemical changes. Thus, FTIR has the potential to generate spectral profiles that function as molecular "fingerprints," capable of early identification of changes associated with the development of CRS.The use of adenine in a model whose main characteristic is the progressive simulation of chronic kidney disease, as occurs in humans. When administered in excess, it causes crystallization in the renal tubules and induces lesions due to uric acid overload. The objective of this study is to identify and characterize cardiac and renal biomarkers using vibrational spectroscopy during the transition from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease induced by a diet rich in adenine. To this end, male mice, 6-8 weeks of age, will be fed a control diet or a diet rich in adenine (0.25%) for 15 days. Biopsies of cardiac and renal tissue will be collected, as well as plasma and urine for spectral analysis. The proposal seeks to contribute to the advancement of diagnostic tools by promoting an innovative, rapid, and less invasive approach to the early detection of changes associated with the syndrome, as an assessment process capable of providing responses with considerable safety has not yet been established. (AU)