Association between Plasma Xanthine Oxidoreductase Activity and the Renal Function in a General Japanese Population: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Community-Based Cohort Study.

Introduction: Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) has been identified as a critical source of reactive oxygen species in various pathophysiological conditions, including hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and atherosclerosis. This study investigated the association between XOR and renal function in a general Japanese population.

Methods: The Iwate Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization pooled individual participant data from a community-based cohort study in Iwate prefecture. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was estimated using the estimated glomerular filtration rate of cystatin C (eGFRcys). Individuals with a history of hyperuricemia or severe renal dysfunction (eGFRcys <15 mL/min/1.73 m2 or undergoing dialysis) were excluded from the study. We performed a multinominal multivariate logistic analysis adjusted for age, blood pressure, uric acid, glycated hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to associate XOR activity and renal function.

Results: The present study included 4,248 participants (male/female: 1,373/2,875, age: 62.9 ± 11.7 years). When participants were divided according to XOR quartiles, blood pressure, body mass index, uric acid, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glycated hemoglobin A1c were highest in the highest XOR quartile (all p < 0.001). The XOR activity was significantly higher in the subgroup with CKD stage G3 and G4 (G1 vs. G2 vs. G3-G4: 44.8 ± 40.5 vs. 52.0 ± 42.9 vs. 54.1 ± 43.9 pmol/h/mL, p = 0.02). The higher XOR activity was significantly associated with an increase of CKD stage: the odd ratios (95% confidence intervals) per 1 pmol/h/mL increase in XOR activity with CKD stage G1 as a reference were 1.37 (1.13-1.73) in G2 and 1.51 (1.30-1.84) in G3-G4.

Conclusion: The present study concluded that high XOR activity was associated with the severity of CKD in a general Japanese population, suggesting that upregulated XOR activity may be involved in advanced renal dysfunction.