Protective effect of interferon-alpha on carbon tetrachloride-induced nephrotoxicity.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic administration of interferon-alpha 2b for the prevention of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity.


METHODS
Thirty rats were divided into three groups: control, CCl4+placebo (CCl4+P) and CCl4+interferon-alpha 2b (CCl4+INF). Control rats were treated with pure olive oil. The other rats were treated for seven weeks with subcutaneous injections of CCl4 (0.15 mL /kg) in pure olive oil three times a week. Rats were killed at the end of the seventh week and renal histopathological examinations were done: specimens of renal tissue were obtained for investigating oxidative stress parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px).


RESULTS
Tubular changes, glomerular hypercellularity, and capillary obliteration were significantly less in the CCl4+INF group than with CCl4+P (p<0.05) and the interstitial fibrosis score for the CCl4+INF group was similar to the control group. However, the interstitial inflammation score was higher in the CCl4+INF group than the control group (p<0.05). No change was observed in the CCl4+P group. Renal MDA levels in the control and CCl4+INF groups were significantly lower than the CCl4+P group, while GSH-Px was significantly higher (p<0.001). There was no difference between the control and CCl4+INF groups in oxidative stress markers (p>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of interferon-alpha 2b to CCl4-treated rats prevented interstitial fibrosis, probably as a result of its antifibrogenic effect. It also reduced intrarenal oxidative stress in rats with CCl4-induced nephrotoxicity.
Doğukan
Ayhan
A
Department of Nephrology, Firat University Medical School, Elazig, Turkey. aydogukan@hotmail.com
Akpolat
Nusret
N
Celiker
Huseyin
H
Ilhan
Nevin
N
Halil Bahçecioğlu
Ibrahim
I
Günal
Ali Ihsan
AI
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011336:Probability; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D020011:Protective Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase