Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2005 Jun;9(3):159-164.

Protective Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Progression of Adriamycin-induced Nephropathy

• Han SW
• Kim HJ
• Paik SS
• Lee JU

Abstract

Effects of antioxidants on the established nephropathy were investigated. The experimental nephropathy was induced in rats by intravenous injection of adriamycin (2 mg/kg). Six weeks later, when proteinuria was apparent, the rats were supplemented with N-acetylcysteine (NAC, 1 g/kg/day) in drinking water for additional 6 weeks. Glomerulosclerosis score and tubulointerstitial injury index were determined by light microscopy. Expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) beta1 and laminin beta1 was determined in the renal cortex by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and immunogold electron microscopy. The adriamycin-induced proteinuria as well as the glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial injury was ameliorated by the treatment with NAC. Adriamycin increased the expression of TGF beta1 mRNA and protein, which was ameliorated by NAC. Although the expression of laminin beta1 mRNA was increased, adriamycin did not significantly alter that of its protein. These results indicate that antioxidants ameliorate the established nephropathy in association with normalization of overexpressed TGF beta1.

Keyword

Nephropathy; N-Acetylcysteine; Glomerulosclerosis; Tubulointerstitial injury; Transforming growth factor beta1; Laminin beta1

MeSH Terms

Acetylcysteine*
Animals
Antioxidants
Blotting, Western
Doxorubicin
Drinking Water
Immunohistochemistry
Injections, Intravenous
Laminin
Microscopy
Microscopy, Electron
Proteinuria
Rats
RNA, Messenger
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factors
Acetylcysteine
Antioxidants
Doxorubicin
Drinking Water
Laminin
RNA, Messenger
Transforming Growth Factor beta1
Transforming Growth Factors