Nuclear factor kappa B plays a pivotal role in renal protection against apoptosis during unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats

ABSTRACT

Obstructive nephropathy constitutes a major cause of renal impairment in children. Unilateral ureteral obstruction [UUO] model of renal injury in rat is characterized by interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, nuclear factor kappa b [NF-kappa B] activation, oxidative stress, fibrosis, and apoptosis. Curcumin, the major component found in turmeric spice has been reported to provide protection against the renal interstitial inflammation and fibrosis elicited by UUO in addition to renal tubular cell apoptosis. The present work study examined the effect of curcumin-rich diet [5% w/w] on the apoptotic pathway induced by UUO in rats after 30 days of legation. 30 male Wistar rats were subjected to UUO. The animals were treated with curcumin rich diet. Obstructed and contralateral kidneys were collected at the day 30, post-surgery and analyzed for inflammatory change 409s and apoptosis-related markers. Kidney functions [serum creatinine and urea], mRNA expressions of TNF- alpha, NF-kappa B and caspase 8, histological examination by hematoxylin and eosin, Mallory Trichrome were carried out. Ureteral obstruction was associated with increase in serum creatinine, and urea. mRNA expression of TNF- alpha and caspase 8 in obstructed kidney as well as NF-kappa B in both kidneys were also increased in comparison to sham-operated rats [p<0.05]. Histological examination showed absence of renal tubules, medulla, and damaged cortex glomeruli. Curcumin-rich diet administration demonstrated significant decrease [p<0.05] in all the previous biochemical and molecular parameters except NF-kappa B expression. These changes may attributed to the protective role of curcumin-rich diet as revealed by the reappearance of large numbers of cortex glomeruli and some renal tubules and delaying of the apoptotic stage till fibrosis. The curcumin-rich diet administration can delay apoptosis without modulating NF-kappa B which may protect the mesingial cells from the apoptotic stimuli TNF-alpha