-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Statins are reported to alleviate renal fibrosis in animal models with ureteral obstruction. However, the molecular mechanism of this antifibrotic effect is still unclear. Pressure force is an important mechanism contributing to induction and progression of tubulointerstitial fibrogenesis in ureteric obstruction. In this study, we investigated the influence of rosuvastatin on pressure-induced fibrotic responses in rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E). We established an in vitro pressure culture system to study pressure-induced fibrotic responses in NRK-52E cells. When NRK-52E cells were cultured in the pressure culture system, 60mmHg of pressure induced the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, fibronectin, Smad3, and phospho-Smad3. Rosuvastatin significantly reduced these pressure-induced fibrotic responses at concentrations above 10μM. Rosuvastatin also reduced the TGF-β-induced expression of fibronectin and CTGF in NRK-52E cells. Pretreatment with rosuvastatin significantly induced prostacyclin (PGI(2)) generation, but reduced pressure-induced prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). PGI(2) synthase small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection significantly inhibited rosuvastatin-induced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α activation. The blockage of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α by siRNA transfection reduced the inhibitory effect of rosuvastatin on pressure-induced fibrotic responses. N-[2-(cyclohexyloxy)-4-nitrophenyl]-methanesulfonamide (NS398), a specific inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2, diminished pressure-induced PGE(2) generation, and also reduced pressure-induced fibrotic responses. Additionally, PGE(2) decreased the antifibrotic effect of rosuvastatin. In conclusion, rosuvastatin reduces pressure-induced fibrotic responses in renal tubular cells by enhancing the PGI(2)- peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α pathway and reducing PGE(2) generation.
European journal of pharmacology 12/2012; · 2.59 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Adipokine leptin reportedly acts on the kidney in pathophysiological states. However, the influence of leptin on renal tubular epithelial cells is still unclear. Gentamicin, a widely used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infection, can cause nephrotoxicity. This study aims to investigate the influence of long-term leptin treatment on gentamicin-induced apoptosis in rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E) and mice. We monitored apoptosis and molecular mechanisms using annexin V/ propidium iodide staining and small interfering RNA transfection. In NRK-52E cells, leptin reduced gentamicin-induced apoptosis at 24h, but significantly increased apoptosis at 48 h. Long-term treatment of leptin decreased Bcl-x(L) expression and increased caspase activity in gentamicin-treated NRK-52E cells. Leptin also increased the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and its product, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), in a dose-dependent manner. The COX-2 inhibitor, NS398 (N-[2-(Cyclohexyloxy)-4- nitrophenyl]methanesulfonamide), blocked PGE(2) augmentation and the pro-apoptotic effects of leptin. The addition of PGE(2) recovered the pro-apoptotic effect of leptin in NS398-treated NRK-52E cells. In a mouse animal model, a 10 day leptin treatment significantly increased gentamicin-induced apoptotic cells in proximal tubules. NS398 treatment inhibited this in vivo pro-apoptotic effect of leptin. Results reveal that long-term elevation of leptin induces COX-2-mediated PGE(2) augmentation in renal tubular cells, and then increases these cells' susceptibility to gentamicin-induced apoptosis.
European journal of pharmacology 06/2012; 689(1-3):65-71. · 2.59 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Dysregulation of canonical Wnt signaling is thought to play a role in colon carcinogenesis. β-Catenin, a key mediator of the pathway, is stabilized upon Wnt activation and accumulates in the nucleus, where it can interact with the transcription factor T cell factor (TCF) to transactivate gene expression. Normal colonic epithelia express a truncated TCF-1 form, called dnTCF-1, that lacks the critical β-catenin-binding domain and behaves as a transcriptional suppressor. How the cell maintains a balance between the two forms of TCF-1 is unclear. Here, we show that ERM-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50) modulates the interaction between β-catenin and TCF-1. We observed EBP50 localization to the nucleus of human colorectal carcinoma cell lines at low cell culture densities and human primary colorectal tumors that manifested a poor clinical outcome. In contrast, EBP50 was primarily membranous in confluent cell lines. Aberrantly located EBP50 stabilized conventional β-catenin/TCF-1 complexes and connected β-catenin to dnTCF-1 to form a ternary molecular complex that enhanced Wnt/β-catenin signaling events, including the transcription of downstream oncogenes such as c-Myc and cyclin D1. Genome-wide analysis of the EBP50 occupancy pattern revealed consensus binding motifs bearing similarity to Wnt-responsive element. Conventional chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed that EBP50 bound to genomic regions highly enriched with TCF/LEF binding motifs. Knockdown of EBP50 in human colorectal carcinoma cell lines compromised cell cycle progression, anchorage-independent growth, and tumorigenesis in nude mice. We therefore suggest that nuclear EBP50 facilitates colon tumorigenesis by modulating the interaction between β-catenin and TCF-1.
The Journal of clinical investigation 04/2012; 122(5):1881-94. · 15.39 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a common complication in chronic renal disease. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), an extracellular cytokine receptor secreted by osteoblasts, can promote bone formation by inhibiting the function of osteoclasts. Hemodialysis (HD) patients have elevated serum OPG levels. OPG secretion can be suppressed with high parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. HD patients with refractory SHPT can benefit from parathyroidectomy (PTX) treatment, but the changes of serum OPG, bone turnover markers and bone mineral density (BMD) following PTX in HD patients remain unclear. In this study, patients on maintenance HD who received PTX for refractory SHPT (n = 28) were prospectively followed for 1 year. Serum intact PTH (iPTH), alkaline phosphatase (Alk-P), and OPG were measured serially; BMD was measured pre-PTX and at 1 year after PTX. After PTX, serum iPTH levels reduced profoundly. Serum Alk-P levels increased rapidly, peaking at 2 weeks post-PTX, while serum OPG levels gradually increased at 2 weeks after PTX and peaked at 2 months. BMD improved in both femoral neck (FN; cancellous and cortical bone) and lumbar spine (LS; cancellous bone). Higher baseline iPTH levels were associated with greater FN and LS BMD improvements at one year after PTX. The increment of serum OPG was correlated with the increase in LS BMD, implying that inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption may improve BMD within the first year after PTX. These findings suggest that PTX removes the suppressive effects of high PTH on OPG secretion, resulting in the increased serum OPG levels that may contribute to BMD improvement.
The Tohoku Journal of Experimental Medicine 01/2012; 226(1):19-27. · 1.24 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Many studies suggest that far-infrared (FIR) therapy can reduce the frequency of some vascular-related diseases. The non-thermal effect of FIR was recently found to play a role in the long-term protective effect on vascular function, but its molecular mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the biological effect of FIR on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced proliferation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We found that FIR ranging 3∼10 µm significantly inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation in HUVECs. According to intensity and time course analyses, the inhibitory effect of FIR peaked at an effective intensity of 0.13 mW/cm(2) at 30 min. On the other hand, a thermal effect did not inhibit VEGF-induced proliferation in HUVECs. FIR exposure also inhibited the VEGF-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases in HUVECs. FIR exposure further induced the phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS) and NO generation in VEGF-treated HUVECs. Both VEGF-induced NO and reactive oxygen species generation was involved in the inhibitory effect of FIR. Nitrotyrosine formation significantly increased in HUVECs treated with VEGF and FIR together. Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) by wortmannin abolished the FIR-induced phosphorylation of eNOS and Akt in HUVECs. FIR exposure upregulated the expression of PI3K p85 at the transcriptional level. We further found that FIR exposure induced the nuclear translocation of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger protein (PLZF) in HUVECs. This induction was independent of a thermal effect. The small interfering RNA transfection of PLZF blocked FIR-increased PI3K levels and the inhibitory effect of FIR. These data suggest that FIR induces the nuclear translocation of PLZF which inhibits VEGF-induced proliferation in HUVECs.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(1):e30674. · 4.09 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Leptin, a circulating hormone secreted mainly from adipose tissues, possesses protective effects on many cell types. Serum leptin concentration increases in patients with chronic renal failure and those undergoing maintenance dialysis. Gentamicin, a widely used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infection, can cause nephrotoxicity. In the present study, we intended to investigate the influence of leptin on apoptotic pathways and its mechanism in rat renal tubular cells treated with gentamicin. By using Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining, we found that leptin expressed a dose-dependent protective effect against gentamicin-induced apoptosis in rat renal tubular cells (NRK-52E) within 24h. Pretreatment of the cells with 50 or 100 ng/ml of leptin induced Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L), increased the phosphorylation of Bad, and decreased the cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 in gentamicin-treated NRK-52E cells. Leptin also suppressed the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB and upregulated Akt activation in gentamicin-treated NRK-52E cells. We found that leptin activated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway as demonstrated by the suppression of the anti-apoptotic effect of leptin by wortmannin. The treatment of wortmannin suppressed the leptin-induced phospho-Akt, Bcl-2, phospho-Bad as well as Bcl-x(L), and recovered the leptin-reduced cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9. Based on our results, we suggested that leptin can attenuate gentamicin-induced apoptotic injury in rat renal tubular cells through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.
European journal of pharmacology 02/2011; 658(2-3):213-8. · 2.59 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Vascular calcification is common in ESRD patients and is important in increasing mortality from cardiovascular complications in these patients. Hyperphosphatemia related to chronic kidney disease is increasingly known as major stimulus for vascular calcification. Hyperphosphatemia and vascular calcification become popular discussion among nephrologist environment more than five decades, and many researches have been evolved. Risk factors for calcification are nowadays focused for the therapeutic prevention of vascular calcification with the hope of reducing cardiovascular complications.
International journal of nephrology. 01/2011; 2011:939613.
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Podocalyxin was initially identified in glomerular podocytes to critically maintain the structural and functional integrity of the glomerular ultrafiltrative apparatus. Lately, it has emerged as a malignant marker in tumors arising from a variety of tissue origins. By immunohistochemistry, we identified that 9.6% of renal cell carcinoma patients overexpress this protein. This subset of patients had significantly shorter disease-specific and overall survivals, and, importantly, we established podocalyxin overexpression as an independent prognostic factor for latent distant metastasis with multivariate analysis. Podocalyxin down-regulation by small interfering RNA led to defective migration in model renal tubular cells, which was corrected by re-expression of podocalyxin. The activity of the small GTPase Rac1, a well-characterized modulator of cell migration, was diminished by podocalyxin knock-down. Conversely, podocalyxin overexpression in human embryonic kidney cells up-regulated Rac1 activity, which depended on a complex formed by podocalyxin, ERM-binding phosphoprotein 50, ezrin, and ARHGEF7, a Rac1 activator. Therefore, podocalyxin can serve as a biomarker to identify renal cell carcinoma patients with higher metastatic potential for more aggressive intervention at earlier clinical stages.
American Journal Of Pathology 06/2010; 176(6):3050-61. · 4.89 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: L-carnitine is synthesized mainly in the liver and kidneys from lysine and methionine from dietary sources. Many reports have shown that L-carnitine can protect certain cells against the toxicity of several anticancer and toxic agents, although the detailed mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of L-carnitine and its molecular mechanism in renal tubular cells undergoing gentamicin-induced apoptosis.
Rat tubular cell line (NRK-52E) and mice were used as the model system. Gentamicin-induced apoptosis in renal tubular cells was examined using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labelling. We introduced short interfering RNA transfection and gene-deficient mice to investigate the protective mechanism of L-carnitine.
We found that L-carnitine inhibited gentamicin-induced reactive oxygen species generation and correlative apoptotic pathways, resulting in the protection of NRK-52E cells from gentamicin-induced apoptosis. The treatment of L-carnitine also lessened gentamicin-induced renal tubular cell apoptosis in mice. L-carnitine was found to increase the prostacyclin (PGI(2)) generation in NRK-52E cells. The siRNA transfection for PGI(2) synthase significantly reduced L-carnitine-induced PGI(2) and L-carnitine's protective effect. We found that the activity of the potential PGI(2) nuclear receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha), was elevated by L-carnitine treatment. The siRNA-mediated blockage of PPARalpha considerably reduced the anti-apoptotic effect of L-carnitine. In PPARalpha-deficient mice, L-carnitine treatment also lost the inhibitory effect on gentamicin-induced apoptosis in kidneys.
Based on these findings, we suggest that L-carnitine protects renal tubular cells from gentamicin-induced apoptosis through PGI(2)-mediated PPARalpha activation.
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 07/2009; 24(10):3042-9. · 3.40 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Urotensin-II (UII) is a potent vasoactive peptide that has been implicated in cardiac fibrosis and renal diseases. However, the role played by UII in renal tissues is largely unknown. In this study, we investigated the effects of human UII (hUII) on rat renal proximal tubular cells of the NRK-52E line and the role of Src homology 2-containing phosphotyrosine phosphatase (SHP-2) in the hUII-induced transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Exposure to hUII at low concentrations significantly induced proliferation in NRK-52E cells; this effect was inhibited by treatment with an ERK1/2 inhibitor (PD98059). UII treatment increased the phosphorylation of EGFR and induced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Treatment of the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) inhibited EGFR transactivation and ERK phosphorylation induced by hUII. SHP-2 was found to interact with EGFR and be transiently oxidized following the hUII treatment. In SHP-2 knockdown cells, UII-induced phosphorylation of EGFR was less influenced by NAC, and significantly suppressed by heparin binding (HB)-EGF neutralizing antibody. Our data suggest that the ROS-mediated oxidation of SHP-2 is essential for the hUII-induced mitogenic pathway in NRK-52E cells.
Growth factors (Chur, Switzerland) 04/2009; 27(3):155-62. · 2.47 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: We have demonstrated that uraemic neutrophils that exhibit a low intracellular pH (pHi) display enhanced phagocytosis. However, the underlying cellular mechanism is unclear.
We used neutrophils from three groups of haemodialysis (HD) patients before dialysis (Groups A, B and C) and also from age- and sex-matched healthy individuals to determine pHi, phagocytosis and expression of CD11b, CD18, CD14 and toll-like receptors (TLR)-2 and TLR-4. The patients were categorized based on three consecutive monthly pre-dialysis plasma bicarbonate concentrations(P(HCO3)) and pH values; Groups A, B and C had a constant pre-dialysis P(HCO3) of </=21, 21-26 and >/=26 mmol/L (mEq/L), respectively. We also studied the effects induced by the correction of metabolic acidosis and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD11b/CD18 on neutrophils in Group A. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of intracellular acidification on uraemic neutrophils ex vivo.
We observed that the neutrophils in Group A exhibited significantly increased phagocytosis and expression of CD11b/CD18 compared with those in Groups B and C. Additionally, our ex vivo studies demonstrated that the mAbs against CD11b/CD18 partially blocked the enhancement of neutrophil phagocytosis in Group A. Moreover, the pHi of uraemic neutrophils is inversely correlated with phagocytosis and expression of CD11b/CD18.
HD patients with a low P(HCO3) exhibited low neutrophil pHi that in turn increased the expression of CD11b/CD18 compared with neutrophils with a normal or high pHi. This increased expression of CD11b/CD18 on the uraemic neutrophils may contribute to the pHi-mediated phagocytosis.
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 06/2008; 23(5):1642-9. · 3.40 Impact Factor
-
Heng Lin,
Chun-Cheng Hou,
Ching-Feng Cheng,
Ted-H Chiu, Yung-Ho Hsu,
Yuh-Mou Sue,
Tso-Hsiao Chen,
Hsin-Han Hou,
Ying-Chi Chao,
Tzu-Hurng Cheng,
Cheng-Hsien Chen
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) is a transcription factor and has been reported to inhibit cisplatin-mediated proximal tubule cell death. In addition, doxorubicin (Adriamycin)-induced nephrosis in rats is a commonly used experimental model for pharmacological studies of human chronic renal diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of PPAR-alpha on doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and its detailed mechanism in NRK-52E cells and animal models. The mRNA level of PPAR-alpha was found to be reduced by doxorubicin treatment in NRK-52E cells. PPAR-alpha overexpression in NRK-52E cells significantly inhibited doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and the quantity of cleaved caspase-3. Endogenous prostacyclin (PGI(2)) augmentation, which has been reported to protect NRK-52E cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, induced the translocation and activation of PPAR-alpha. The transformation of PPAR-alpha short interfering RNA was applied to silence the PPAR-alpha gene, which abolished the protective effect of PGI(2) augmentation in doxorubicin-treated cells. To confirm the protective role of PPAR-alpha in vivo, PPAR-alpha activator docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was administered to doxorubicin-treated mice, and it has been shown to significantly reduce the doxorubicin-induced apoptotic cells in renal cortex. However, this protective effect of DHA did not exist in PPAR-alpha-deficient mice. In NRK-52E cells, the overexpression of PPAR-alpha elevated the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase and inhibited doxorubicin-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). PPAR-alpha overexpression also inhibited the doxorubicin-induced activity of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which was associated with the interaction between PPAR-alpha and NF-kappaB p65 subunit as revealed in immunoprecipitation assays. Therefore, PPAR-alpha is capable of inhibiting doxorubicin-induced ROS and NF-kappaB activity and protecting NRK-52E cells from doxorubicin-induced apoptosis.
Molecular Pharmacology 12/2007; 72(5):1238-45. · 4.88 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The effect of intracellular pH (pHi) on neutrophils has not been clearly defined.
We used pre-dialysis neutrophils from three groups of haemodialysis (HD) patients having different levels of pre-dialysis plasma bicarbonate concentrations (PHCO3) and pH values (pre-dialysis PHCO3 of groups A, B and C were consistently<or=21, 21-26 and>or=26 mmol/l [mEq/l], respectively) and neutrophils from age- and sex-matched healthy controls to determine pHi, apoptosis, phagocytosis and oxidative burst reactions in vivo. We also studied, in group A, the effect of metabolic acidosis correction on neutrophil function. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of intracellular acidification on neutrophil functioning in vitro.
Neutrophils from the HD patients in group A exhibited significantly lower pHi than those in groups B and C. In addition, group A neutrophils had significantly delayed apoptosis, enhanced phagocytosis and increased oxidative burst reactions compared with those in groups B and C. These alterations in neutrophil function in group A were reduced by correcting metabolic acidosis over a period of 1 month. Moreover, our in vitro studies demonstrated that the pHi of neutrophils is positively correlated with apoptosis and inversely correlated with phagocytosis and oxidative burst reactions.
HD patients having low PHCO3 exhibited low neutrophil pHi. This intracellular acidification may contribute to the delayed apoptosis, enhanced phagocytosis and increased oxidative burst reactions observed in these neutrophils compared with neutrophils having normal or higher pHi.
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 09/2007; 22(9):2613-22. · 3.40 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Podocalyxin (PC) was initially identified as a major sialoprotein on the apical surface of glomerular podocytes to perform the filtration barrier function. Later, it was reported to be expressed in endothelial cells, megakaryotes/platelets, and hemangioblasts, the common progenitor cells of the hematopoietic and endothelial cells. Recently, increasing numbers of reports have indicated that PC is not merely a molecule restricted at renal glomerulus, angiogenic or hematopoietic system. To further elucidate the expression pattern and address the possible physiological role of PC in adult mammals, we conducted an extensive study by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining on various tissues of healthy adult beagle dogs. By combinatory usage of two different anti-podocalyxin antibodies recognizing distinct epitopes in PC, we have demonstrated that (1) PC is expressed in renal tubules, mesothelium, myocardium, striated muscles in tongue, esophagus and extraocular region, myoepithelial cells in esophagus and salivary glands, neurons, and ependyma, etc.; (2) there are at least three forms of PC proteins, depending upon the accessibility of two different PC antibodies, expressed in different organs/systems; and (3) a particular form of PC is distributed in a vesicle-like compartment in certain organs/systems, such as the central nervous system.
Histochemie 05/2007; 127(4):399-414. · 2.59 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Gentamicin, a widely used antibiotic for the treatment of bacterial infection, can cause nephrotoxicity. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is a compound purified from the rhizome of Ligusticum wallichi (Chuanxiong) and has been found to protect against ischaemia-reperfusion injury, nephritis and alcohol-induced toxicity in rat kidneys.
We used rat renal tubular cells (RTCs), NRK-52E, in this study. The cytotoxicity of gentamicin was checked with transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining, and the generation of reactive oxygen species was measured using the fluorescent probe 2,7-dichlorofluorescein. We evaluated several apoptotic parameters: cleaved caspase levels, tumour necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) excretion and nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-kappaB) activity. We also examined the TMP protective effect on gentamicin-induced apoptosis in rat kidneys.
The results of this study showed that gentamicin was found to markedly induce apoptosis in NRK-52E cells in a dose-dependent manner; that TMP expressed a dose-dependent protective effect against gentamicin-induced apoptosis; that pre-treatment of the cells with 50 or 100 microM of TMP effectively decreased the reactive oxygen species formation induced by gentamicin; that TMP was found to inactivate the gentamicin-stimulated activities of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, to inhibit gentamicin-induced release of cytochrome c, as well as to raise the expression of Bcl-x(L); that TMP inhibited the gentamicin-induced TNF-alpha excretion, and inactivated the transcription factor NF-kappaB; and that the TMP treatment significantly reduced apoptotic injury in rat RTCs.
Based on the results of this study, we suggest that TMP can attenuate gentamicin-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic injury in rat RTCs, and that its character may have therapeutic potential for patients with renal diseases.
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 04/2007; 22(3):732-9. · 3.40 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a compound purified from Rhizoma Ligustici, is a widely used active ingredient in Chinese herbal medicine to treat cardiovascular diseases on account of its vasodilatory actions and antiplatelet activity. Studies have shown that TMP can remove oxygen free radicals and protect rat kidney from ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, adriamycin-induced nephrosis in rats is commonly used in pharmacological studies of human chronic renal diseases. Apoptosis of renal tubular cells has been reported in adriamycin-treated rats. To examine the therapeutic potential of TMP on chronic progressive renal diseases, adriamycin-induced injury in rat renal tubular cells NRK-52E has been used to monitor its protective effect. In TUNEL staining, TMP showed a dose-dependent protective effect against adriamycin-induced apoptosis in NRK-52E cells. Pretreatment of the cells with 10 or 100 microM of TMP effectively decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation induced by adriamycin, as measured in fluorescent assays. TMP was found to reduce the adriamycin-stimulated activities of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, inhibit adriamycin-induced release of cytochrome C, and elevate the expression of Bcl-x (L). TMP was also able to inhibit the death receptor signaling pathway and suppress the activation of transcription factor NF-kappaB in adriamycin-treated NRK-52E cells. Based on the results of this study, we suggest that TMP can attenuate adriamycin-induced oxidative stress and apoptotic injury in NRK-52E cells, and that it may have therapeutic potential for patients with renal diseases. TMP: tetramethylpyrazine LDH: lactate dehydrogenase ROS: reactive oxygen species DCF: 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein TNF-alpha: tumor necrosis factor-alpha TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end-labeling.
Planta Medica 09/2006; 72(10):888-93. · 2.15 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Human erythrocytes can take up dehydroascorbate on the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT 1) and reduce it to ascorbate. Intraerythrocyte ascorbate was proved to be directly responsible for decreased oxidation of extraerythrocytic ascorbate. In addition to spontaneous and irreversible loss of ascorbate in plasma, the hemodialysis (HD) process itself consumes plasma ascorbate. However, intraerythrocyte ascorbate status in uremic patients during HD has yet to be reported.
Plasma and intraerythrocyte ascorbate, dehydroascorbate, GLUT 1 expression on erythrocyte membranes, and in vitro studies of "erythrocyte ascorbate recycling" were investigated in age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (control group) and HD patients (HD group).
Intraerythrocyte ascorbate concentrations decreased after 1 HD session compared with pre-HD and recovered to pre-HD values 2 days later, whereas plasma ascorbate concentrations did not recover. In vitro studies suggested that erythrocytes of HD patients have a stronger ability to maintain intracellular ascorbate concentrations compared with healthy subjects. This ability could be inhibited by cytochalasin B (GLUT 1 inhibitor). We also found increased GLUT 1 expression (P = 0.002) on erythrocyte membranes in the HD group compared with the control group.
Erythrocytes of uremic patients lost large amounts of ascorbate during HD, but regained it to the pre-HD level 2 days later. Enhanced GLUT 1 expression on erythrocyte membranes for HD patients may contribute to better preservation of intracellular ascorbate compared with healthy subjects.
American Journal of Kidney Diseases 07/2006; 47(6):1055-63. · 5.43 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Adriamycin-induced nephrosis in rats is a commonly used experimental model for pharmacological studies of human chronic renal diseases. Adriamycin-induced apoptosis of renal tubular cells has been reported in adriamycin-treated rats. In addition, prostacyclin (PGI(2)) is known to have various protective effects on many kinds of cells. To investigate the protective effect of PGI(2) on cells undergoing adriamycin-induced apoptosis, this study selectively augmented PGI(2) production via adenovirus-mediated transfer of genes for cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and prostacyclin synthase (PGIS) (two key enzymes of PGI(2) synthesis) to renal tubular cells. This PGI(2) overexpression protected rat renal tubular cells from adriamycin-induced apoptosis. Ad-COX-1/PGIS transfection was found to reduce the adriamycin-stimulated activities of caspase-3 and caspase-9, inhibit adriamycin-induced release of cytochrome c, elevate the expression of Bcl-x(L), and suppress the activation and translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in adriamycin-treated renal tubular cells. Our results reveal that selective augmentation of PGI(2) production can protect rat renal tubular cells from adriamycin-induced apoptosis via the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. This implies the therapeutic potential of combined COX-1 and PGIS gene transfer in gene therapy for chronic renal diseases.
European Journal of Pharmacology 02/2006; 529(1-3):8-15. · 2.52 Impact Factor
-
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 12/2005; 20(11):2575-7. · 3.40 Impact Factor
-
[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: To provide an update on the latest evidence-based management of nephropathy in type 2 diabetes.
A literature search (MEDLINE 1966 to 2002) was performed using the key words "diabetic nephropathy," and relevant book chapters were also reviewed, to identify well-controlled, prospective landmark studies and expert review articles on diabetic nephropathy (DN). Data and conclusions from the selected articles that provided solid evidence regarding the optimal management of DN were extracted and interpreted in light of clinical and research experience with Chinese patients.
DN is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease worldwide. High blood pressure, dyslipidemia, long duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control and central obesity are important risk factors. Microalbuminuria is a practical marker to predict the development of overt nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. Risk factor modification, renal function monitoring and combined therapies are the current integrated approaches to manage patients with diabetic kidney disease. Optimal glycemic control is a fundamental goal, but effective antihypertensive and possibly lipid-lowering therapy delay the progression of DN. Recent large clinical trials support the earlier experimental data that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers have important renoprotective actions independent of their blood pressure lowering actions.
Screening for microalbuminuria and monitoring renal function will identify patients with DN at an early stage and allow for intervention. Tight glycemic control and aggressive antihypertensive treatment as well as the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors should substantially delay the progression of nephropathy.
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association 12/2003; 66(11):627-36. · 0.79 Impact Factor
