C-phycocyanin Attenuates Renal Inflammation and Fibrosis in UUO Mice / 대한신장학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: It has been reported that Spirulina, a blue-green algae with potent antioxidant properties, affords significant protection against inflammation and fibrosis in the liver in vivo. The aim of the present study was to establish the possible protective role of C-phycocyanin, one of the active ingredients of Spirulina, in an experimental model of fibrosis in the kidney. METHODS: The study was carried out using male C57BL6 mice. Mice were divided into the following four groups sham-operated group; C-phycocyanin (PC)-treated sham group; unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) group; and PC with UUO group. We evaluated renal TGF-beta mRNA, MCP-1, and osteopontin using real-time RT PCR. We evaluated renal TGF-beta, alpha-SMA, and CD68 by immunohistochemistry. We recorded light microscopic findings of kidney specimens. RESULTS: PC significantly decreased the expression of MCP-1 and alpha-SMA mRNA. Renal gene levels of expression of TGF-beta, MCP-1, and osteopontin in the UUO group were significantly higher than the sham-operated group (p<0.01). The levels of expression of TGF-beta, MCP-1, and osteopontin mRNA of kidneys in the PC-treated UUO group were significantly lower than the untreated UUO group (p< 0.05). The magnitude of expression of TGF-beta and alpha-SMA protein in the kidneys of the PC-treated UUO group was significantly less than the untreated UUO control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that PC has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects in an experimental UUO murine model.