Etanercept attenuates TNFα-mediated kidney injury in a rat model of brain death kidney donation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Brain death (BD) remains a major contributor to kidney injury in deceased donors. In this study, we demonstrate that selective TNFα blockade with etanercept during donor management markedly reduces BD-induced renal damage. Using a rat model of 6-h BD, we show that etanercept selectively neutralizes circulating TNFα without altering hemodynamics or kidney function markers yet significantly decreases tubular injury, myeloid infiltration, KIM-1 expression, and apoptosis. Whole-kidney transcriptomics confirmed broad suppression of TNF-dependent inflammatory and apoptotic pathways. These findings confirm TNFα as a central mediator of BD-associated renal injury and support TNFα-targeted interventions as a promising strategy to improve the quality of BD donor kidney before transplantation.
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7166319970