Comparison of the Effects of General Anesthesia and Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia on Ferroptosis, Humanin and MOTS-c Levels in Renal Transplantation

Official title

Comparison of the Effects of General Anesthesia and Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia on Ferroptosis, Humanin and MOTS-c Levels in Renal Transplantation: A Prospective Controlled Study

Overview

Renal transplantation is the most effective renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease. Ischemia-reperfusion injury may adversely affect graft function and long-term outcomes. Ferroptosis has recently emerged as a potential mechanism involved in ischemia-reperfusion injury, while the mitochondrial-derived peptides humanin and MOTS-c are thought to exert protective effects against oxidative stress. However, the effects of different anesthetic techniques on these biomarkers in kidney transplant recipients have not been investigated. This prospective controlled study aims to compare the effects of sevoflurane general anesthesia (SGA) and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA) on serum ferroptosis markers, humanin, and MOTS-c levels in adult kidney transplant recipients. Blood samples will be obtained perioperatively for biomarker analysis. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate the effects of the anesthetic technique on serum ferroptosis markers, humanin, and MOTS-c levels. Secondary objectives include evaluating early graft function and postoperative outcomes by assessing the incidence of delayed graft function, postoperative serum creatinine levels, requirement for dialysis, urine output, length of hospital stay, and the association of these outcomes with perioperative biomarker levels.

Detailed description

Renal transplantation represents the most effective form of renal replacement therapy for patients with end-stage renal disease; however, ischemia-reperfusion injury remains a major determinant of early graft dysfunction and long-term transplant outcomes.

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation, has recently been proposed as an important mechanism contributing to ischemia-reperfusion-related tissue injury. In addition, mitochondrial-derived peptides such as humanin and MOTS-c have been identified as key regulators of cellular stress responses and may exert protective effects against oxidative damage. Despite these emerging findings, the influence of anesthetic technique on ferroptosis-related pathways and mitochondrial protective peptides in kidney transplantation has not yet been fully elucidated.

This prospective controlled study is designed to evaluate the effect of anesthetic technique on perioperative biochemical and clinical outcomes in renal transplant recipients. Adult patients undergoing kidney transplantation will receive either sevoflurane-based general anesthesia (SGA) or combined spinal-epidural anesthesia (CSEA). The two anesthetic strategies will be compared in terms of their effects on circulating ferroptosis-related biomarkers, as well as serum levels of humanin and MOTS-c.

Peripheral arterial blood samples will be obtained at two standardized points: immediately before anesthesia induction (T1) and immediately prior to extubation (T2). Following collection, blood samples will be centrifuged, and serum aliquots will be stored under appropriate conditions at -80°C until batch analysis. Serum levels of ferroptosis-related biomarkers, humanin, and MOTS-c will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and standard biochemical techniques.

The primary objective of the study is to assess the effect of anesthetic technique on perioperative changes in serum ferroptosis-related biomarkers and mitochondrial-derived peptides (humanin and MOTS-c).

The secondary objectives are to evaluate early postoperative graft function and clinical recovery parameters, including incidence of delayed graft function, postoperative serum creatinine levels, requirement for dialysis, urine output, and length of hospital stay. In addition, the association between perioperative biomarker levels and clinical outcomes will be analyzed to explore potential predictive relationships.

It is anticipated that this study will provide further insight into the relationship between anesthetic technique, ferroptosis pathways, and mitochondrial-mediated cytoprotection in renal transplantation. The results may contribute to improved understanding of perioperative biological responses and support optimization of anesthetic strategies aimed at enhancing graft outcomes.

Interventions

• Drug Sevoflurane General Anesthesia
  Participants will receive standardized sevoflurane general anesthesia according to institutional kidney transplantation protocols. Anesthesia induction will include preoxygenation with 100% oxygen for 3-5 minutes, followed by intravenous propofol (1.5-2.5 mg/kg), fentanyl (1-2 µg/kg), and rocuronium bromide (0.6 mg/kg). Endotracheal intubation will be performed after short mask ventilation using direct laryngoscopy, and correct placement will be confirmed by auscultation. Anesthesia maintenance
• Drug Bupivacaine and Morphine for Combined Spinal-Epidural Anesthesia
  Participants will receive combined spinal-epidural anesthesia under sterile conditions according to institutional protocols. The L3-L4 interspace will be identified, and local anesthesia will be administered with lidocaine (2-3 mL, 2%). A Tuohy needle will be inserted using a midline approach, and the epidural space will be identified using loss-of-resistance technique. Spinal anesthesia will be achieved via intrathecal injection of 2.5 mL of 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine after confirmation of cer

Primary outcome measures

• Serum ferroptosis-related biomarkers (Fe, TFRC1, GPX4, MDA, ACSL4) and mitochondrial-derived peptides (humanin and MOTS-c) [Time frame: Immediately before anesthesia induction and immediately before extubation (intraoperative period)]

Secondary outcome measures (6)

• Delayed Graft Function (DGF) [Time frame: Postoperative days 0-7]
• Postoperative Serum Creatinine Levels [Time frame: Postoperative days 1-7]
• Requirement for Postoperative Dialysis [Time frame: Within first 7 postoperative days]
• Urine Output [Time frame: Intraoperative period and first 24 postoperative hours]
• Length of Hospital Stay [Time frame: From surgery until discharge (up to 30 days)]
• Association Between Biomarkers and Clinical Outcomes [Time frame: Perioperative period and first 7 postoperative days]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Patients aged 18-70 years with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III.
• Patients scheduled for elective living-donor allogeneic kidney transplantation.
• Patients receiving sevoflurane-based general anesthesia as the anesthetic technique.
• Patients receiving combined spinal-epidural anesthesia as the anesthetic technique.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients younger than 18 years or older than 70 years.
• Patients undergoing deceased-donor kidney transplantation.
• Patients receiving total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA).
• Patients who decline to participate in the study or are unable to provide informed consent.
• Patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status IV or V.
• Patients with a history of previous organ transplantation.
• Patients with known or suspected mitochondrial disorders.
• Patients with a history of chronic corticosteroid use.
• Patients requiring red blood cell transfusion intraoperatively or within the first 24 postoperative hours.
• Patients with a primary warm ischemia time >5 minutes, secondary warm ischemia time >30 minutes, or cold ischemia time >60 minutes.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Single blind

Primary purpose

Basic science

Study locations

Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center

• Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine Hospital — Gaziantep

Publications

• Ivascu R, Torsin LI, Hostiuc L, Nitipir C, Corneci D, Dutu M. The Surgical Stress Response and Anesthesia: A Narrative Review. J Clin Med. 2024 May 20;13(10):3017. doi: 10.3390/jcm13103017. PMID 38792558
• Siedlecki A, Irish W, Brennan DC. Delayed graft function in the kidney transplant. Am J Transplant. 2011 Nov;11(11):2279-96. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2011.03754.x. Epub 2011 Sep 19. PMID 21929642
• Perico N, Cattaneo D, Sayegh MH, Remuzzi G. Delayed graft function in kidney transplantation. Lancet. 2004 Nov 13-19;364(9447):1814-27. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17406-0. PMID 15541456
• Zheng Y, Wei Z, Wang T. MOTS-c: A promising mitochondrial-derived peptide for therapeutic exploitation. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023 Jan 25;14:1120533. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1120533. eCollection 2023. PMID 36761202
• Yong CQY, Tang BL. A Mitochondrial Encoded Messenger at the Nucleus. Cells. 2018 Aug 13;7(8):105. doi: 10.3390/cells7080105. PMID 30104535
• Wan W, Zhang L, Lin Y, Rao X, Wang X, Hua F, Ying J. Mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c: effects and mechanisms related to stress, metabolism and aging. J Transl Med. 2023 Jan 20;21(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s12967-023-03885-2. PMID 36670507
• Coradduzza D, Congiargiu A, Chen Z, Cruciani S, Zinellu A, Carru C, Medici S. Humanin and Its Pathophysiological Roles in Aging: A Systematic Review. Biology (Basel). 2023 Apr 6;12(4):558. doi: 10.3390/biology12040558. PMID 37106758
• Gong Z, Tas E, Muzumdar R. Humanin and age-related diseases: a new link? Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2014 Dec 4;5:210. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2014.00210. eCollection 2014. PMID 25538685

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07678073 · 2024/420 · 962387

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗