potential anti-inflammatory effect of tetrahydrobiopetrin administration in renal mass reduction -induced chronic renal failure

Elevated C-reactive protein [CRP], as a marker of persistent inflammation, predicts cardiovascular and over all mortality in chronic kidney disease patients. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of tetrahydrobiopetrin [BH4] supplementation on the markers of inflammation and on the histological picture of the kidney in chronic renal failure [CRF] induced in rats by subtotal nephrectomy [SNx]. This study was performed at the Faculty of Medicine, King Saud University. CRF was induced by 5/6 subtotal nephrectomy [SNx] in 20 male Wister rats and other 10 rats were sham operated by flank incision and served as controls. Ten SNx rats received l0mg/kg BH4 i.p daily for 4 weeks. Plasma CRP, IL-6, malondialdehyde [MDA], and kidney functions were measured in all rats. Histopathological examination of the kidney tissues was also performed. Untreated CRF rats showed significant elevation of plasma CRP, IL-6 and MAD levels and significant decrease in plasma albumin and total protein levels, tubuloglomerularfibrosis and, interstitial tubular infiltration with inflammatory cells in comparison to the sham operated rats. BH4 treatment significantly decreased CRP, IL-6 and MAD levels and also decreased the tubuloglomerular fibrosis and interstitial inflammation in treated CRF rats. Supplementation with exogenous BH4 decreases markers of inflammation and protects the kidney against post- renal mass reduction histologic damage. Restoration of intracellular BH4 balance could normalize NO production. Therefore, BH4 might be a promising strategy in attenuating inflammation in CRF. This may decrease endothelial dysfunction and limit the associated cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this disease