title: Therapeutic effect of retinoic acid on unilateral ureteral obstruction model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinoic acids, a group of natural and synthetic vitamin A derivatives, have potent anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties. We investigated the therapeutic effect of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) on unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  First, to evaluate the prophylactic effect, we administered 0.5 mg of ATRA for 3 days before UUO (UUO ATRA). Then, to evaluate the therapeutic effects, we administered 0.5 mg of ATRA 3 days after UUO (Day 3 ATRA). We compared the histological changes and immunostaining of macrophages, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I, and mRNA expression of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β(1) and TGF-β R-II by RT-PCR 7 days after UUO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the UUO ATRA and Day 3 ATRA groups, we observed a significant improvement in histological and immunological findings, including macrophage infiltration and improved expression of MCP-1, TGF-β(1), α-SMA and collagen I compared with the UUO Day 7 group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ATRA treatment is not only an effective prophylactic strategy, but also a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of progressive renal fibrosis in diseased kidneys.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagare
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimazu
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nozaki
authors.forename: Masafumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikoma
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Funauchi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D024042:Collagen Type I; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D014212:Tretinoin