MicroRNA-125b as a new potential biomarker on diagnosis of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

BACKGROUND: Acute renal failure is commonly seen in the perioperative period. Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury plays a major role in acute renal failure and delayed graft function. MicroRNAs (miRs), which are pivotal modulators of cell activities, offer a major opportunity for affective diagnosis and treatment strategies because they are tissue specific and in the center of gene expression modulation. The effect of bardoxolone methyl (BM) on miR-21, miR-223-5p, and miR-125b in renal IR injury was evaluated in this study. METHODS: Wistar-Albino rats (12-16 wk old, weighing 300-350 g) were used in the study. Rats (n = 6) were randomized into three groups (control, IR, and BM + IR). Tissue levels of miRs were analyzed with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Significant reduction of urea and total oxidant status, increase of total antioxidant status, and oxidative stress index were identified in the IR + BM group compared with the IR group. Significant increases of miR-21 (2842.82-fold) and miR-125b (536.8-fold) were identified in the IR group compared with the control group; however, miR-223-5p levels did not show any significant difference. Also, miR-21 and miR-125b were significantly reduced in the IR + BM group compared with the IR group. Reduced histopathologic changes were observed in the IR + BM group. A significant decrease in the number of tunel-positive cells was identified in the IR + BM group compared with the IR group. CONCLUSIONS: miR-125b was significantly increased in IR injury; thus, miR-125b can be a potential novel marker that can be used in diagnosis and treatment of renal IR injury. BM reduces miR-21 and miR-125b in case of IR injury and makes functional and histopathologic repairs.

Effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy combined with platelet-rich plasma on diabetic wounds: an experimental rat model.

INTRODUCTION: Hyperbaric oxygen and platelet-rich plasma are used in the treatment of diabetic wounds. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and autologous platelet concentrates in healing diabetic wounds. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-six female Wistar albino rats were used in this study. Diabetes mellitus was induced chemically with an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. The rats were divided into a control group, a hyperbaric oxygen group, a platelet-rich plasma group, and a combined therapy group. Platelet-rich plasma was applied just after the creation of the wound; hyperbaric oxygen treatment was carried out daily over 7 days. Wound healing was evaluated according to four parameters: ulcerations, epidermal thickness, density of dermal collagen fibers, and proliferation of dermal blood vessels. RESULTS: The number of active ulcers in the combined therapy group was fewer than in the control group (p = 0.039), and the wound area was greatest in controls (p < 0.001). The epidermal thickness in platelet-rich plasma and combined therapy groups was non-significantly greater than in the control group (p = 0.097 and p = 0.074, respectively). The amount of fibrous collagen in these two groups was greater than in the control group (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Combined hyperbaric oxygen and platelet-rich plasma therapy was found to be successful in diabetic wound healing. The combination therapy had no additive effect in terms of angiogenesis and the development of new collagen fibers.

Micro RNA-320 as a novel potential biomarker in renal ischemia reperfusion.

AIM: MicroRNAs (miR) are important diagnostic and treatment targets due to their different tissue expressions and their central position in the regulation of gene expressions. miR studies might pioneer emerging of new diagnostic tools and treatment goals in kidney diseases. Captopril (CAP) and telmisartan (TEL) were shown to be effective in ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury. There is not any study about the effect of TEL and CAP over miR-21-320-146a. Our aim was to study the effects of CAP and TEL over miR on renal IR model. METHODS: We used 12-16 weeks-old Wistar-Albino rats that weigh 300-350 g. Rats (n, 6) were randomized into four groups (Control, IR, IR + CAP, IR + TEL). Urea, creatinine, total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and miRs were analyzed. RESULTS: Urea, creatinine, TOS, OSI levels of IR + CAP, and IR + TEL groups were lower comparing to IR group. TAS and SOD levels were higher in IR group than IR + TEL group. miR-21-320-146a showed increase in renal IR injury. miR-320, 146a showed significant decrease in IR + CAP and IR + TEL groups comparing to IR group. We showed histopathological recovery and decreased apoptosis in IR + CAP and IR + T groups than IR group. CONCLUSION: We, for the first time in the literature, showed that miR-320 is increased in IR injury. miR-320 might be a novel diagnosis and treatment target in renal ischemic reperfusion injury. Also, for the first time, we showed that CAP and TEL cause functional and histopathological recovery and lower miR-146a and miR-320.

The effect of adropin on lipid and glucose metabolism in rats with hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate, for the first time, whether the effects of low-dose adropin administration is effective in rats with hyperlipidemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty one Wistar albino female rats were randomly divided into 3 groups and fed with high-fat diet for 4 weeks to establish the hyperlipidemia model. Meanwhile, adropin was administrated intraperitonealy (2.1 µg/kg/day), once a day for continuous 10 days. Then, body weights and serum biochemical parameters, adropin, insulin and blood glucose levels were determined. Additionally, in liver tissue, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA gene expressions were evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The results showed that intraperitoneal administration of adropin to hyperlipidemic rats for 10 days were extremely effective in decreasing the levels of serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma glutamil transferase (GGT) and increasing the levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). It could decrease mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 via regulating the expressions of iNOS. In addition, treatment with adropin showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, serum insulin levels, HbA1c (%), and HOMA-IR, and increase in serum adropin levels. CONCLUSION: Adropin may ameliorate lipid metabolism, reduce insulin resistance, and inhibit hepatocytes inflammation. Thus, adropin had significant therapeutic benefits and could be suggested as a potential candidate agent against hyperlipidemia.

Antiadhesive and anti-inflammatory effects of pirfenidone in postoperative intra-abdominal adhesion in an experimental rat model.

BACKGROUND: Pirfenidone (PF) is a potent antifibrotic and anti-inflammatory agent. We investigated the protective effect of PF against postoperative intra-abdominal adhesions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups (n = 10 in each group). In group 1 (control), adhesion induction was performed by cecal abrasion, and no treatment was administered. In group 2 (vehicle), for 2 wk after adhesion induction, 0.4%-carboxymethylcellulose was administered by gavage. In group 3 (PF treatment), for 2 wk after adhesion induction, 500-mg/kg/d PF was administered by gavage. On the 15th postoperative day, the animals were killed, and cecal and peritoneal tissues were excised. The adhesions were graded macroscopically. The protein concentrations and mRNA expression levels of the following genes were measured in the tissues: matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9); tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1); tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); and transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1). The tissue samples were also evaluated histopathologically. RESULTS: Macroscopic and histopathologic evaluation showed that PF-reduced adhesion and inflammation (P < 0.001, P = 0.004, respectively). Pretreatment with PF-reduced TIMP-1, TNF-α, and TGF-ß1 protein concentrations (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) and mRNA expression levels (P = 0.030, P = 0.005, and P = 0.016, respectively) and increased MMP-9 protein concentrations (P < 0.001) and mRNA expression (P = 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that PF can be used as a protective agent to prevent the development of peritoneal adhesions and inflammation during the postoperative period.

Ukrain (NSC 631570) ameliorates intestinal ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute lung injury by reducing oxidative stress.

Intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) causes severe destruction in remote organs. Lung damage is a frequently seen complication after intestinal I/R. Ukrain (NSC 631570) is a synthetic thiophosphate derivative of alkaloids from the extract of the celandine (Chelidonium majus L.) plant. We investigated the effect of Ukrain in animals with lung injury induced by intestinal I/R. Adult male Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: control, Ukrain, I/R, I/R with Ukrain. Before intestinal I/R was induced, Ukrain was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 7.0 mg/body weight. After 1 h ischemia and 2 h reperfusion period, lung tissues were excised. Tissue levels of total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured and oxidative stress indices (OSI) were calculated. Lung tissues were also examined histopathologically. TOS and OSI levels markedly increased and TAS levels decreased in the I/R group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). TOS and OSI levels markedly decreased and TAS levels increased in the I/R with Ukrain group compared with the group subjected to IR only (P < 0.05). Severe hemorrhage, alveolar septal thickening, and leukocyte infiltration were observed  in the I/R group. In the I/R with Ukrain group, morphologic changes occurring as a result of lung damage attenuated and histopathological scores reduced compared to the I/R group (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that Ukrain pretreatment could reduce lung injury induced by intestinal I/R induced via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The effects of ozone therapy on caspase pathways, TNF-α, and HIF-1α in diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Accelerated apoptosis plays a vital role in the development of diabetic vascular complications. Ozone may attenuate diabetic nephropathy by means of decreased apoptosis-related genes. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of ozone therapy on streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy in rats. Also the histopathological changes in diabetic kidney tissue with ozone treatment were evaluated. METHODS: The rats were randomly divided into six groups (n = 7): control (C), ozone (O), diabetic (D), ozone-treated diabetic (DO), insulin-treated diabetic (DI), and ozone- and insulin-treated diabetic (DOI). D, DI, and DOI groups were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin. Ozone was given to the O, DO, and DOI groups. Group DI and DOI received subcutaneous (SC) insulin (3 IU). All animals received daily treatment for 6 weeks. RESULTS: Expressions of caspase-1-3-9, HIF-1α, and TNF-α genes were significantly higher in D group compared to C group (p < 0.05 for all). Ozone treatment resulted in significant decrease in the expressions of these genes in diabetic kidney tissue compared to both C and D group (p < 0.05 for all). Caspase-1-3-9, HIF-1α, and TNF-α gene expressions were found to be lower in DOI group compared to C group (p < 0.05 for all). Also adding ozone treatment to insulin therapy resulted in more significantly decrease in the expressions of these genes in diabetic tissue compared to only insulin-treated diabetic group (p < 0.05 for all). Regarding histological changes, ozone treatment resulted in decrease in the renal corpuscular inflammation and normal kidney morphology was observed. Both insulin and ozone therapies apparently improved kidney histological findings with less degenerated tubules and less inflammation of renal corpuscle compared to D, DO, and DI groups. CONCLUSION: Ozone therapy decreases the expressions of apoptotic genes in diabetic kidney tissue and improves the histopathological changes.

The effect of ozone on blood pressure in DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a risk factor for the cardiovascular diseases. Ozone as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of several disorders. We aimed to observe the effects of ozone on the blood pressure in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. METHODS: Twenty three young Sprague Dawley male rats were divided into three groups; Control (C), Hypertension (H) and Hypertension + Ozone (HO). Hypertension was induced by injection of DOCA-salt (25 mg/kg, s.c.) twice weekly, 4 weeks, whereas intraperitoneal ozone was administered (1.1 mg/kg) for 10 days. Serum endothelin-1, nitric oxide and renin levels were measured with ELISA. Blood pressures were monitored using a tail cuff system. Endothelin-1, ET receptor A and ET receptor B mRNA expression in heart and vascular tissue were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Blood pressure, serum endothelin-1 and ET receptor A mRNA expression levels were increased in H group, whereas serum renin, nitric oxide and ET receptor B mRNA expression levels in the heart and vascular tissue decreased compared with C and HO groups, which were counteracted by ozone treatment. CONCLUSION: Ozone treatment decreases blood pressure and is effective in preventing the progression of hypertensive disease, the mechanisms of which are associated with anti-vasoconstrictor effects through reducing the levels of serum endothelin-1 and ET receptor A mRNA expression in the heart and vascular tissue.

Effects of ukrain in rats with intestinal ischemia and reperfusion.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential protective effect of the ukrain on ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in rat intestine, which has not previously been studied. METHODS: Thirty-one male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups, each consisting of eight rats as follows: (1) a sham group (S) (laparotomy, but no IR injury); (2) ukrain group (U) (no IR, and ukrain was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before laparotomy); (3) intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (II/R) group (30-min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery then 2-h reperfusion); and (4) ukrain + II/R group (U + II/R) (30-min occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery then 2-h reperfusion; ukrain was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before IR). RESULTS: Serum total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant status (TAS) were measured using Erel method. Oxidative stress index was calculated using the TOS/TAS ratio. TAS levels increased and TOS serum levels were also significantly decreased in the ukrain + IR group compared with the IR group (P = 0.000 and P = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we demonstrated for the first time in literature that ukrain helps to prevent intestinal tissue breakdown against II/R injury and that this effect can be achieved by antioxidant activities.

The effects of apelin treatment on a rat model of type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: Apelin is an adipokine that plays a role in the regulation of many biological functions in mammals including the neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, immune systems, glucose homeostasis and obesity. It can act via autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and exocrine signaling. We aimed to identify the role of apelin pathophysiology of diabetes. MATERIAL/METHODS: 37 male Wistar Albino rats aged 8-10 weeks were divided in four experimental groups as: control group (C) control+apelin group (C+A), diabetic group (D) diabetic+apelin group (D+A). Apelin and apelin receptor mRNA gene expressions in heart and aorta tissue were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The plasma levels of insulin and plasma apelin were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Plasma levels of insulin, glucose, blood pressure levels were significantly lower in D+A group. There was no statistically significant difference for level of apelin between diabetic groups. On the other hand, differences for apelin and APJ mRNA expression in heart and vascular tissue were found significant between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Apelin can be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of type II diabetes in the future.

Hyperbaric oxygen treatment ameliorates lung injury in paraquat intoxicated rats.

Paraquat (PQ) is an agrochemical agent commonly used worldwide, which can cause acute lung injury (ALI) and death. Hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) is a therapeutic method, but the mechanisms of the protective effect of HBOT on ALI remain elusive. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of HBOT on acute lung injury induced by PQ in rats. Wistar Albino rats (n=21) were separated into three groups of seven animals each: control (C), PQ, and PQ + HBOT groups. 20 mg/kg PQ was administered intraperitoneally in PQ and PQ + HBOT groups to induce experimental lung injury. Three days after PQ treatment, PQ + HBOT group was administered 100% O2 at 2.0 ATA for 1 hour per day, for five consecutive days. At the end of the study, lung tissue was obtained for determining total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and histopathological determination. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 mRNA levels were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In addition, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level in the plasma was determined. Plasma iNOS, OSI, tissue TNF-α, TGF-ß1 and bFGF mRNA levels, and histological injury scores in PQ + HBOT group were significantly lower than PQ group. TAS level in PQ + HBOT group was significantly higher than PQ group. The findings suggest that HBOT could effectively ameliorate PQ-induced lung injury in rats.

Effects of Ukrain on intestinal apoptosis caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the antiapoptotic effect of Ukrain on intestinal lesion induced by mesenteric ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: laparotomy (L), I/R, and Ukrain and I/R (U + I/R). In the U + I/R group, Ukrain (7 mg/kg) was given by intraperitoneal at the beginning of the study. 1 h after ukrain application, ischemia was induced for 30 minutes, and reperfusion was subsequently allowed for 120 minutes in the I/R and U + I/R groups. Rats were sacrificed at the end of reperfusion and intestinal tissues were collected for biochemical and molecular examination. Intestinal tissues caspase 3 protein were assayed. Serum Bcl-xL and iNOS were measured. The expression level of caspase-3, Bcl-xL and iNOS in intestinal tissue of rats were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Levels of serum iNOS and mRNA expression were increased in the I/R and decreased in the U + I/R group. In addition, levels of the proapoptotic gene caspase-3 protein and mRNA expression were increased in the I/R and decreased in the U + I/R group. Levels of the antiapoptotic gene Bcl-xL serum and mRNA expression were increased in the U + I/R group. CONCLUSIONS: Ukrain can reduce the ischemia-reperfusion injury in the intestinal tissue by inhibiting the cell apoptosis. The mechanism may be correlated with increased Bcl-xL mRNA expressions and decreased mRNA expressions of Caspase-3 and iNOS.

Apelin effects on blood pressure and RAS in DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats.

Apelin, a novel multifunctional peptide implicated in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, including blood pressure and cardiac function control, has been postulated to be involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension and hypertensive heart disease. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, whether the effects of apelin's chronic application might be involved in deoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertensive rats (DOCA-salt rats). In this study, 8-10-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control, control + apelin, DOCA-salt rats, DOCA-salt rats + apelin. Deoxycorticosterone Acetate (25 mg/kg of body weight) was injected subcutaneously, twice a week for 4 weeks. These rats received NaCl 1% instead of tap water for drinking during the experimental period. Later, rats were randomly treated with pyroglutamylated apelin-13 (200 µg. kg(-1). day(-1) intraperitonealy) for 17 days. The concentrations of apelin, endothelin-1, angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensinogen, and angiotensin II were analyzed in the plasma. The mRNA level of apelin and apelin receptor were determined in the heart and aorta tissue by real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. It was found that apelin reduces blood pressure in DOCA-salt rats. Apelin can be used as a therapeutic agent in the treatment of hypertension in the future.