Effects of erythropoietin on complement 3 and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of renal tissue in unilateral uretreal obstructire rats / 中国药学杂志

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of erythropoietin (EPO) on renal fibrosis of unilateral uretreal obstruction (UUO) rats and its mechanism. METHODS: The model of renal fibrosis was established by UUO procedure in rats. Experimental rats were randomly divided into 4 groups sham operation group (control group), UUO group, 100 u · kg-1 · d-1 EPO treatment group (low dosage group) and 1000 u · kg-1 · d-1 EPO treatment group (high dosage group). The rats in control group and UUO group were given physiological saline, and those in UUO treatment group were given EPO by intraperitoneal injection from 3 to 14 d after establishment of UUO model. All rats were given methane to induce anesthesia and consequently executed. The pathological change of renal tissue was observed, and immunohistochemistry was performed to measure the expressions of α-SMA, E-cadherin and complement 3 (C3) in renal tissue. RESULTS: Compared with UUO group, renal fibrosis were attenuated by EPO treatment, especially in high dosage group. Compared with control group, the expressions of α-SMA and C3 were significantly up-regulated, and the expressions of E-cadherin were significantly down-regulated in UUO group. In contrast, EPO treatment significantly attenuated the up-regula-tion of C3 and α-SMA and the down-regulation of E-cadherin in renal tissue, and these changes were more obvious in UUO rats treated with high dosage of EPO. CONCLUSION: EPO can inhibit EMT and attenuate renal fibrosis in obstructed kidney. It is suggested that the renoprotective effects of EPO are probably related with inhibition of C3 expression in renal tubular epithelial cells. Copyright 2012 by the Chinese Pharmaceutical Association.