Citrate attenuates tubulointerstitial fibrosis in 5/6 nephrectomized rats by decreasing transforming growth factor-beta1.
OBJECTIVE
Tubulointerstitial fibrosis plays an essential role in progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD) in various chronic renal failure (CRF) models including the 5/6 nephrectomy (5/6). The present study examines the renoprotective effect of citrate in the renal ablative model that is quite similar to CRF in human.


METHODS
Male Wistar rats underwent 5/6 and were fed with tap water (5/6tap) or tap water containing 67 mEq/L citrate solution (5/6cit). Sham-operated rats (S) were divided into Stap and Scit groups. Renal function, renal histopathology, renal alpha-Smooth muscle actin (SMA), and renal transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 were determined immediately and at the 8th week after operation.


RESULTS
Following the surgery, the values of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in the 5/6tap and the 5/6cit groups were 2.39 +/- 0.25 and 2.35 +/- 0.25 (mL/kg/min), respectively, both were significantly lower than sham groups (p < 0.05). At the eighth week, the 5/6tap group had progressively decreased GFR and had higher fibrosis score, increased alpha-SMA positive cells, and renal tissue TGF- beta1 when compared with the sham groups. The 5/ 6cit group, when compared with the 5/6tap group, had higher GFR (2.51 +/- 0.22 vs 1.17 +/- 0.33 mL/kg/min; p < 0.05), lower fibrosis score (1.83 +/- 0.88 vs 3.0 +/- 0.4, p < 0.001), lower alpha-SMA activity (159 +/- 2.9 vs 187 +/- 12.3 cells per 1000 interstitial cells, p < 0.05), and lower renal TGF-beta1 levels (1771.3 +/- 239.5 vs 4716.9 +/- 871.2 pg/mg protein, p < 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
As such, in 5/6 nephrectomized rats, citrate therapy for eight weeks could decrease tubulointerstitial fibrosis mainly by reducing the heightened renal TGF-beta1 levels and additionally by attenuating the increased myofibroblast activity.
Manotham
Krissanapong
K
Nephrology Unit, Medicine, Lerdsin General Hospital.
Eiam-Ong
Somchai
S
Eiam-Ong
Somchit
S
Wannakrairot
Pongsak
P
Praditpornsilpa
Kearkiat
K
Chusil
Saowaluck
S
Tungsanga
Kriang
K
D000818:Animals; D002951:Citrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005355:Fibrosis; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009392:Nephrectomy; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D002951:Citrates; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1