Role of apoptosis in triptolide-induced acute nephrotoxicity and possible mechanisms in rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To investigate the role of apoptosis in triptolide-induced acute nephrotoxicity and the possible mechanisms in vivo. Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into control and two testing groups. The rats of two testing groups were ip injected with triptolide solution at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg of body weight, respectively, and the rats of the control group were ip injected with 0.9% physiological saline instead. Testing rats were killed 48 h after the injection; Blood samples were collected and both kidneys were removed. The BUN and Scr concentrations in plasma were measured, and renal histology was examined by HE staining. TUNEL staining was performed to evaluate apoptosis of renal tissue. Renal expression of apoptosis related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, Bid, Bad, Fas, and FasL proteins, as well as corresponding regulating genes were assessed by immuno-histochemical staining and real-time PCR. Results: After injection, a large number of apoptotic tubular cells appeared corresponding to the increases of BUN and Scr concentrations. Furthermore, increased expression of Bax, Bid, Bad, Fas, and FasL was detected at both protein and mRNA levels, but the expression of Bcl-2 did not differ among the three groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that apoptosis of tubular cells plays a key role in the pathogenesis of triptolide-induced acute nephrotoxicity, and Bcl-2 family, as well as Fas and FasL, is involved in this process.