RESUMO
The aim of this study was to elucidate the protective effect of arbutin on cisplatin (Cis) induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury and its mechanism. Cell counting kit-8 was used to detect the viability of renal tubular epithelial cells. The toxicity of arbutin on renal tubular epithelial cells at different concentrations and the appropriate concentration of arbutin to protect cells against cisplatin were observed. The renal tubular epithelial cells were divided into control group, arbutin group, Cis group and arbutin+Cis group. Flow cytometry, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the levels of apoptosis and inflammation. The results showed that arbutin had no significant toxic effect on renal tubular epithelial cells in the mentioned concentration range (0-200 μmol/L). When the concentration of arbutin exceeded 100 μmol/L, it showed a protective effect on renal tubular epithelial cells. Arbutin intervention significantly reduced cisplatin-induced apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells and the increase of inflammation-related molecules p-p65 and interleukin-18. In addition, arbutin intervention reversed the cisplatin-induced reduction of Bcl-2 in renal tubular epithelial cells. These findings suggest that arbutin can attenuate cisplatin-induced renal tubular epithelial cell injury through anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory responses, which may be expected to be a new potential therapeutic drug for acute kidney injury.