title: Low-molecular-weight heparin protects kidney through an anti-apoptotic mechanism in a rat pre-eclamptic model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) for the treatment of pre-eclampsia (PE) and the underlying mechanism.
  
  
  METHODS
  PE was established in a rat model using l-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester (l-NAME). The effect of LMWH was examined by measuring various physiological parameters known to be associated with PE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Blood pressure, urinary protein, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were higher in l-NAME-treated rats compared with control rats. In addition, the number of fetuses, and the weight of fetuses and placentas was lower in l-NAME-treated rats, indicating the establishment of PE conditions. Apoptosis was found in kidney tissue in l-NAME-treated rats. LMWH treatment restored the PE-associated disorders, and inhibited apoptosis in kidney tissue in these rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LMWH can control PE conditions, protect renal function and improve fetal health. The mechanism of renal protection is likely to be related to the inhibitory effect of LMWH on apoptosis in kidney tissue. This study provides evidence that LMWH can potentially be used as a safe and effective anti-PE drug to improve PE conditions and protect renal function by inhibiting PE-induced apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fengyan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Sijin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Guangzhou, China. Electronic address: zhongmei2014@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D010920:Placenta / Q000187:drug effects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; C494828:Bax protein, rat; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D003404:Creatinine; D053148:Caspase 3; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester
keywords: Apoptosis; Kidney; Low-molecular-weight heparin; Pre-eclampsia