A virus that is present in most people in a latent（潜在的） state may induce or exacerbate1（恶化） anemia2（贫血） in patients with kidney disease, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology . The findings point to a new therapeutic3 target for affected4 individuals. Chronic5 kidney disease patients and kidney transplant recipients6 often develop anemia, or low levels of red blood cells. This is often because they do not produce enough erythropoietin , a hormone7 that is made in the kidney and stimulates8 production of red blood cells. Lynn Butler, PhD, Cecilia Sderberg-Naucler, MD, PhD and their colleagues wondered whether infection with cytomegalovirus , a type of herpes virus carried by approximately 70% of the population, might play a role in the development of anemia in these patients.Most people carry CMV for life without any clinical symptoms because the immune system controls the infection; however, under some circumstances the virus can become active, replicate9, and cause symptoms. The kidney is a target organ for CMV, and previous reports have shown that an active CMV infection is often present in transplanted kidneys.Dr. Butler and her colleagues first looked to see if CMV could be detected in kidney biopsies from CKD patients and then investigated if, and how, the presence of such an infection could be linked to the development of anemia.The team discovered that kidneys from 9 of 13 CKD patients were positive for active CMV infection and that patients with higher levels of anti-CMV antibodies in their blood had lower number of red blood cells.Additional tests revealed that CMV infection inhibits10 the ability of cells to produce EPO and that it does this by preventing the production of a protein called hypoxia inducible11 factor .We have established a link between CMV infection and the development of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. Thus, this virus could provide a target for therapeutic intervention, said Dr. Butler.In an accompanying editorial, Michael Seifert, MD and Daniel Brennan, MD lauded12 the investigators13 for their thoroughness. A major strength of this study is the authors use of clinical observations, human biospecimens, animal models, and cell culture experiments to conduct true translational research that addresses an important question for clinicians, they wrote. We applaud this innovative14 study, they added.
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1 exacerbate v.恶化，增剧，激怒，使加剧 参考例句： WMO says a warming climate can exacerbate air pollution.世界气象组织说，气候变暖或许会加剧空气污染。 In fact efforts will merely exacerbate the current problem.事实上努力只能加剧目前的问题。
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