Yigang Zeng1, Long Zheng1, Zhangru Yang1, Cheng Yang1, Yi Zhang1, Jiawei Li1, Weitao Zhang1, Mingnan Zhang1, Mushuang Hu1, Shuo Wang1, Sidikejiang Niyazi1, Ming Xu1, Ruiming Rong1, Tongyu Zhu2. 1. Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: tyzhu@fudan.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aristolochic acid (AA) injuries remain a serious condition associated with acute renal dysfunction. Herein, the effect and mechanism of a novel tissue protective peptide, cyclic helical B-peptide (CHBP) derived from erythropoietin, were investigated in a mice model. METHODS: Mice were randomly divided into four groups, receiving the following treatments (1: saline; 2: AA 10mg/kg; 3: AA 10mg/kg +CHBP 4nmol/kg; 4: AA 10mg/kg +CHBP 8nmol/kg). RESULTS: Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine was increased by AA but decreased by CHBP in a dose-dependent fashion. CHBP also significantly improved renal tubular injury and inflammatory infiltration, which was gradually increased by AA. Apoptotic cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells, and active caspase-3+ cells were greatly reduced by CHBP. In addition, CHBP inhibited caspase-3, 9 and improved bcl-2, bcl-xl protein expression in vivo. CONCLUSION: Taken together, we demonstrated, for the first time, that CHBP effectively improved renal function and tissue damage caused by AA, which maybe through reducing caspase-3 activation, apoptosis, and inflammation.
BACKGROUND:Aristolochic acid (AA) injuries remain a serious condition associated with acute renal dysfunction. Herein, the effect and mechanism of a novel tissue protective peptide, cyclic helical B-peptide (CHBP) derived from erythropoietin, were investigated in a mice model. METHODS:Mice were randomly divided into four groups, receiving the following treatments (1: saline; 2: AA 10mg/kg; 3: AA 10mg/kg +CHBP 4nmol/kg; 4: AA 10mg/kg +CHBP 8nmol/kg). RESULTS: Blood ureanitrogen and serum creatinine was increased by AA but decreased by CHBP in a dose-dependent fashion. CHBP also significantly improved renal tubular injury and inflammatory infiltration, which was gradually increased by AA. Apoptotic cells, infiltrating inflammatory cells, and active caspase-3+ cells were greatly reduced by CHBP. In addition, CHBP inhibited caspase-3, 9 and improved bcl-2, bcl-xl protein expression in vivo. CONCLUSION: Taken together, we demonstrated, for the first time, that CHBP effectively improved renal function and tissue damage caused by AA, which maybe through reducing caspase-3 activation, apoptosis, and inflammation.