Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Can Halt and Even Reverse Renal Tubule-Interstitial Fibrosis

Background: The tubule-interstitial fibrosis is the hallmark of progressive renal disease and is strongly associated with inflammation of this compartment. Heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a cytoprotective molecule that has been shown to be beneficial in various models of renal injury. However, the role of HO-1 in reversing an established renal scar has not yet been addressed. Aim: We explored the ability of HO-1 to halt and reverse the establishment of fibrosis in an experimental model of chronic renal disease. Methods: Sprague-Dawley male rats were subjected to unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) and divided into two groups: non-treated and Hemin-treated. To study the prevention of fibrosis, animals were pre-treated with Hemin at days -2 and -1 prior to UUO. To investigate whether HO-1 could reverse established fibrosis, Hemin therapy was given at days 6 and 7 post-surgery. After 7 and/or 14 days, animals were sacrificed and blood, urine and kidney tissue samples were collected for analyses. Renal function was determined by assessing the serum creatinine, inulin clearance, proteinuria/creatininuria ratio and extent of albuminuria. Arterial blood pressure was measured and fibrosis was quantified by Picrosirius staining. Gene and protein expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic molecules, as well as HO-1 were performed. Results: Pre-treatment with Hemin upregulated HO-1 expression and significantly reduced proteinuria, albuminuria, inflammation and pro-fibrotic protein and gene expressions in animals subjected to UUO. Interestingly, the delayed treatment with Hemin was also able to reduce renal dysfunction and to decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules, all in association with significantly reduced levels of fibrosis-related molecules and collagen deposition. Finally, TGF-beta protein production was significantly lower in Hemin-treated animals. Conclusion: Treatment with Hemin was able both to prevent the progression of fibrosis and to reverse an established renal scar. Modulation of inflammation appears to be the major mechanism behind HO-1 cytoprotection.Fundacao de Amparo Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP[07/07139-3]Coordenaco de Aperfeioamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior-CAPESInstituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia de Complexos Fluidos (INCT)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNP

Elevation of the antifibrotic peptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline: a blood pressure-independent beneficial effect of angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors

Blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is well recognized as an essential therapy in hypertensive, heart, and kidney diseases. There are several classes of drugs that block the RAS; these drugs are known to exhibit antifibrotic action. An analysis of the molecular mechanisms of action for these drugs can reveal potential differences in their antifibrotic roles. In this review, we discuss the antifibrotic action of RAS blockade with an emphasis on the potential importance of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition associated with the antifibrotic peptide N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP)

Proteção funcional da enzima heme-oxigenase-1 na lesão renal aguda isquêmica e tóxica Protección funcional de la enzima heme-oxigenasa-1 en la lesión renal aguda isquémica y tóxica Functional protection of heme-oxygenase-1 enzyme in ischemic and toxic acute kidney injury

OBJETIVOS: Verificar a proteção funcional da heme-oxigenase (HO-1), por meio do uso do seu indutor (Hemin) e seu inibidor químico (protoporfirina de zinco-ZnPP) na lesão renal aguda isquêmica e tóxica pela Polimixina B (PmxB) em ratos. MATERIAL: Foram utilizados ratos Wistar, adultos e machos divididos em 8 grupos: SHAM (controle), Isquemia (Isq), Isq+Hemin (indutor de HO-1), Isq+ZnPP (inibidor de HO-1), SALINA (controle), Polimixina B (PmxB), PmxB+Hemin, PmxB+ZnPP. MÉTODOS: Jaffé (clearance de creatinina, Clcr) e FOX-2 (peróxidos urinários). RESULTADOS: A isquemia (30´) dos pedículos reais e a administração de PmxB reduziu o Clcr com manutenção do fluxo urinário. Os peróxidos urinários se elevaram em ambas as lesões. A administração do Indutor de HO-1 determinou melhora da função renal e redução dos níveis de peróxidos urinários. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram que a isquemia e a PmxB induzem LRA oxidativa. O indutor de HO-1 atenuou a lesão em ambos os modelos por atenuação do mecanismo redox.<br>OBJETIVOS: Verificar la protección funcional de la heme-oxigenasa (HO-1), por medio del uso de su inductor (Hemin) y su inhibidor químico (protoporfirina de zinc-ZnPP) en la lesión renal aguda isquémica y tóxica producida por la Polimixina B (PmxB) en ratas. MATERIAL: Fueron utilizadas ratas Wistar, adultas y machos divididos en 8 grupos: SHAM (control), Isquemia (Isq), Isq+Hemin (indutor de HO-1), Isq+ZnPP (inibidor de HO-1), SALINA (control), Polimixina B (PmxB), PmxB+Hemin, PmxB+ZnPP. MÉTODOS: Jaffé (clearance de creatinina, Clcr) y FOX-2 (peróxidos urinarios). RESULTADOS: La isquemia (30´) de los pedículos reales y la administración de PmxB redujo el Clcr con manutención del flujo urinario. Los peróxidos urinarios se elevaron en ambas lesiones. La administración del Inductor de HO-1 determinó mejora de la función renal y reducción de los niveles de peróxidos urinarios. CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados de este estudio demuestran que la isquemia y la PmxB inducen AKL por la elevación de los peróxidos urinarios. El inductor de HO-1 atenuó la lesión en ambos modelos por atenuación del mecanismo redox.<br>OBJECTIVE: To investigate the functional protection of heme-oxygenase-1 enzyme (HO-1) when using its inducer (Hemin) and inhibitor (zinc protoporphyrin-ZnPP) in ischemic and toxic acute kidney injury by Polymixin B in mice. MATERIALS: Adult male Wistar mice divided into 8 groups were used: SHAM (control), Ischemic (Isq), Isq+Hemin (Inducer of H0-1), Isq+ZnPP (inhibitor of H0-1), SALINA (control), Polimyxin B (PmxB), PmxB+Hemin, PmxB+ZnPP. METHOD: Analysis consists of Jaffé (creatinine clearance [crCl]) and FOX-2 (urinary peroxides [UP]). RESULTS: Thirty minutes renal ischemia and its treatment with PmxB reduced the crCl and maintained urinary output. Urinary peroxide levels increased in both injuries. The administration of the inducer of H0-1 resulted in improvement in renal function and reduction in the levels of urinary peroxide. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicated that ischemia and PmxB induce LAR (acute kidney injury [AKI]) by elevating the levels of urinary peroxide. The HO-1 inducer ameliorated the injury in both animal models through redox mechanism