Cellular lipid metabolism and the role of lipids in progressive renal disease

Dyslipidemia contributes to the rate of progression of atherosclerosis and chronic kidney disease. Also, chronic kidney disease leads to the development of secondary abnormalities in lipid metabolism that contribute to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review presents the mechanisms that underlie this risk. The mechanisms of normal cellular lipid metabolism and the abnormalities that develop in association with inflammation are reviewed. There is a special emphasis on foam cells in the kidney and on lipid-mediated changes in intrinsic kidney cells that lead to glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. Correlates to studies performed in whole animals and humans are included. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.