title: Protective effects of Radix Codonopsis on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats after kidney transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) after kidney transplant remains a major problem, separate from immune rejection that can lead to kidney transplant failure and graft function loss. Free radicals, disturbance of microcirculation and the inflammatory cascade appear to be the main contributors. Radix Codonopsis, a traditional Chinese drug used in vascular diseases, is an antioxidant and free radical scavenger. This study investigates the protective effect and underlying mechanisms of Radix Codonopsis extract saponins on kidney transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Renal transplantation was performed after rat kidneys had been stored for 1 h at 4°C. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assayed; bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression was detected using RT-PCR; bcl-2 and bax protein expression was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used to detect apoptotic cells and determine the apoptosis index (AI). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Dunnett's test was used when more than two groups were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Saponin-treated animals showed increased SOD levels accompanied by decreased MDA, Scr and BUN levels (p < 0.05 vs. untreated controls); bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels were increased in transplanted kidney from treated animals, while bax mRNA and protein levels were decreased (p < 0.05 vs. untreated controls). AI was significantly decreased in transplanted kidneys from treated animals relative to untreated controls (p < 0.05 vs. untreated controls).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study clearly demonstrates the protective effects on IRI after kidney transplantation, which may be explained by decreased lipid peroxidation and inhibition of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, ChongQing Chindren's Hospital, ChongQing Medical University, Yuzhong District, ChongQing, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ying-Tian
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin-Gang
authors.initials: XG
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jing-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Guang-Hui
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D029745:Codonopsis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000378:metabolism; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase