Inhibition of transforming growth factor beta 1 induction by dietary vitamin E in unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats.

Free radical species associated with bilateral ureteral obstruction (BUO) are considered important in the pathogenesis of the glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury in BUO rats. We seek to test the hypothesis that the use of an easily administered antioxidant, vitamin E, at sufficient plasma concentrations, can decrease this release of free oxygen radicals in kidney tissue and ameliorate the increase of the fibrogenic cytokine, transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta-1). We used the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) rat model, because the presence of the uninjured contralateral kidney provides a nonuremic internal milieu, in contrast to the uremic, acidotic, and hypercholesterolemic BUO model. Compared to sham controls, the UUO animals showed a dramatic increase in renal cortical TGF beta-1 mRNA, as quantitated by Northern blot analysis with cyclophilin internal standards. This increase in TGF beta-1 mRNA was reversed in UUO rats treated with vitamin E. The plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, an index of lipid peroxidation and an indirect index of free radical release, was significantly elevated in UUO animals compared to sham animals. The vitamin E-treated UUO animals showed a significant decrease in both plasma and renal cortical tissue MDA content. Taken together, these findings provide evidence of the important biological role of reactive free radical species in the tubulointerstitial injury of UUO and the novel role of vitamin E in modulating the mRNA of the fibrogenic TGF beta-1 in obstructive uropathy.