Genomic damage in the progression of chronic kidney disease in rats

► End-stage renal disease is related to a high risk of developing cancers of the urinary tract, lung, colon, rectum, skin, breast and prostate, the current study evaluated if the progression of renal disease induces genomic damage in an animal model. ► We studied 5/6-nephrectomized rats after 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days and found elevated levels of genomic damage in the blood, liver and kidney cells using the comet assay. ► Genotoxicity was observed at later times (120 and 150 days after) in the brain. ► Further results indicate that high levels of blood pressure and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα) and low levels of iron were important factors for the genomic alterations observed with this protocol.