Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : JASN
Audio Summaries

Hemodialysis Care: Evolving to Enhance Patient-Level Outcomes

Sep 22, 2026

The authors examine how hemodialysis care can evolve to enhance patient-level outcomes, questioning why improvements in traditional adequacy targets have not translated into better survival, hospitalization rates, and quality of life for patients. They argue for a shift from focusing on surrogate measures to evaluating therapies based on their impact on meaningful clinical outcomes, patient-reported experiences, and overall value. The review highlights the need for rigorous research and alignment of healthcare policies to ensure that technological advancements in dialysis lead to improved care for individuals with kidney failure.

Hemodiafiltration: Clinical Practice of Today and a Look into the Future

Sep 22, 2026

This review examines the current state and future potential of hemodiafiltration (HDF) as a kidney replacement therapy, particularly its advantages over conventional hemodialysis in improving clinical outcomes such as mortality and hospitalization rates. The authors aim to highlight the prescription variables that influence HDF performance and advocate for a shift towards individualized treatment strategies that incorporate patient-reported outcomes and advanced monitoring technologies. Ultimately, they suggest that high-volume HDF may become the global standard for dialysis due to its effectiveness and potential cost benefits.

Translocator Protein and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease​

Sep 21, 2026

The authors investigate the role of the translocator protein (TSPO) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, particularly its impact on mitochondrial dysfunction, kidney inflammation, and fibrosis. Using mouse models and primary renal tubular epithelial cells, they demonstrate that TSPO deficiency mitigates kidney injury and fibrosis by enhancing mitochondrial energy metabolism and disrupting glycolytic processes. Their findings suggest that targeting TSPO could be a potential therapeutic strategy for CKD.

Glucosuria as a Marker of Adherence to Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Clinical Outcomes in Real-World Practice

Sep 17, 2026

The authors investigate whether glucosuria can serve as an objective marker of adherence to sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and its association with clinical outcomes in real-world settings. Their findings indicate that glucosuria is linked to higher adherence rates and is associated with significantly reduced risks of all-cause mortality, heart failure hospitalization, and end-stage kidney disease among patients using SGLT2 inhibitors.

SLCO4A1 Governs PGE2-Mediated Natriuresis in the Kidney

Sep 15, 2026

The authors investigate the role of SLCO4A1 in regulating renal sodium and water homeostasis, particularly its influence on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) signaling and tubular sodium transport. Using knockout and overexpressing mouse models, they demonstrate that SLCO4A1 affects the distribution of PGE2 in the kidney, which in turn modulates the expression of key sodium transporters through various EP receptors. Their findings highlight the SLCO4A1-PGE2-EP receptor axis as a critical mechanism in the regulation of natriuresis.

Spatially Distinct TREM2+ Macrophages Are Associated with Compartment-Specific Protection in Diabetic Kidney Disease

Sep 14, 2026

The authors investigate the role of TREM2+ macrophages in diabetic kidney disease (DKD), focusing on their distribution, origin, and functional specialization within different renal compartments. They find that TREM2 deficiency exacerbates kidney injury, highlighting the protective roles of distinct macrophage populations in glomerular and tubular structures. The study suggests that TREM2+ macrophages contribute to compartment-specific protective mechanisms in DKD, with implications for understanding macrophage heterogeneity in kidney pathology.

Spatially Patterned Podocyte State Transitions Coordinate Aging of the Glomerulus

Sep 14, 2026

The authors investigate how aging affects podocyte states and intercellular communication in the glomerulus, particularly examining differences between outer cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons. Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing, they find that anatomical location significantly influences transcriptional changes, with aging selectively modifying specific gene programs rather than expanding aging-associated cell populations. Their results suggest that a stress-adaptive podocyte state in the juxtamedullary region may explain the region-specific vulnerability of glomeruli during aging.

CDK4/6 Inhibitor Abemaciclib Arrests and Reverses Kidney Cyst Progression in Preclinical Models of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Sep 14, 2026

The authors investigate whether the CDK4/6 inhibitor abemaciclib can effectively arrest and reverse kidney cyst progression in preclinical models of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), a condition currently managed only modestly by tolvaptan. Their findings demonstrate that abemaciclib significantly suppresses cyst growth and improves kidney function by restoring ciliary polycystin levels, showing greater efficacy and tolerability compared to existing treatments.

Performance of the iBox Prognostication System in African American Kidney Transplant Recipients

Sep 10, 2026

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the iBox prognostication system in predicting long-term graft loss specifically in African American kidney transplant recipients, a population not fully studied before. The findings indicated that the iBox demonstrated similar predictive accuracy for graft loss in both African American and non-African American recipients, suggesting its robustness and clinical utility across racial groups.

Quantum Dot-Based Fluorescent Lateral Flow Immunoassay Strip for Rapid Detection of Anti-nephrin Autoantibodies in Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome

Sep 8, 2026

The authors aimed to develop a rapid and efficient method for detecting anti-nephrin autoantibodies in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome using a quantum dot-based lateral flow immunoassay (QD-LFIA). Their optimized assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity, with strong agreement to traditional immunoprecipitation-Western blotting methods, while also identifying additional positive cases. This innovative approach offers a promising tool for clinical diagnosis and monitoring of the disease.