Propofol attenuation of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury involves heme oxygenase-1.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the protective effect of propofol in renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the role of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in this process.


METHODS
Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: (i) sham-operated group; (ii) I/R group; and (iii) propofol group. Bilateral renal warm ischemia for 45 min was performed. After 2, 6, and 24 h reperfusion, blood samples and kidneys were collected for assessment of renal injury, and HO-1 expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemical analysis, RT-PCR and Western blotting.


RESULTS
Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels in the propofol group were significantly lower than that in the I/R group at 24 h after reperfusion. The mean histological score by Palleros standard showed that propofol significantly attenuated renal I/R injury after 6 h reperfusion. Propofol increased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels 2 h after reperfusion, whereas HO-1 expressions were present at exceedingly low levels in the I/R group and the sham-operated group at same time point. Propofol also markedly increased HO-1 mRNA and protein levels than I/R at 6 and 24 h after reperfusion.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that propofol mitigates renal I/R injury in rats. This protection may be partly through the induction of the HO-1 expression.
Wang
Hui-hua
HH
Departments of Anesthesiology and Cardiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou, China.
Zhou
Hai-yan
HY
Chen
Cong-cong
CC
Zhang
Xiu-lai
XL
Cheng
Gang
G
D000818:Animals; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D015153:Blotting, Western; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*
D003404:Creatinine; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C491523:Hmox1 protein, rat; D015742:Propofol