title: L-carnitine protects against cyclosporine-induced pancreatic and renal injury in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  L-carnitine has protective effects against various types of injury. This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effects of L-carnitine on pancreatic and renal injuries caused by cyclosporine (CsA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats maintained on a low sodium diet were given vehicle (olive oil, 1 mL/kg/d), CsA (15 mg/kg/d), L-carnitine (50 or 200 mg/kg/d), or a combination of CsA and L-carnitine for 4 weeks. The impact of L-carnitine on pancreatic injury was assessed by blood glucose levels, plasma insulin concentrations, and hemoglobulin A1c (HbA1c). In addition, the protective effects of L-carnitine against CsA-induced kidney injury were evaluated in terms of renal function, histopathology (inflammatory cell influx and tubulointerstitial fibrosis), oxidative stress (8-hydroxy 2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG), transforming growth factor-betal (TGF-β1), apoptosis (caspase-3), and autophagy (LC3-II).
  
  
  RESULTS
  CsA treatment caused diabetes, renal dysfunction, tubulointerstitial inflammation (ED-1-positive cells), and fibrosis, which were accompanied by an increase in 8-OHdG production and upregulation of TGF-β1, caspase-3, and LC3-II. Concomitant administration of L-carnitine increased plasma insulin concentrations, decreasing plasma glucose and HbA1c levels. In the kidney, L-carnitine induced dose-dependent improvement of renal function, inflammation, and fibrosis in parallel with suppression of the expression of TGF-β1 and 8-OHdG. Furthermore, the administration of L-carnitine at a high dose inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and LC3-II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that L-carnitine has a protective effect against CsA-induced pancreatic and renal injuries.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology & Dialysis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, YanBian University Hospital, YanJi, JiLin, PR China.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: H B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002331:Carnitine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine; D002331:Carnitine