title: Baicalein, a Component of Scutellaria baicalensis, Attenuates Kidney Injury Induced by Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion.
abstract: Acute kidney injury is a common and severe complication of acute myocardial infarction and cardiac surgery. It results in increased mortality, morbidity, and duration of hospitalization. Baicalein is a component of the root of Scutellaria baicalensis, which has traditionally been used to treat cardiovascular and liver diseases in Asia. In this study, we investigated whether baicalein can attenuate kidney injury induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rats. Myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, induced by a 40-minute occlusion and a 3-hour reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery, significantly increased blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels in addition to causing histological changes in the kidneys. Kidney apoptosis was also significantly increased. Furthermore, myocardial ischemia and reperfusion significantly increased the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6 as well as the tumor necrosis factor-α levels in the kidneys. Intravenous pretreatment with baicalein (in doses of 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg), however, significantly reduced the increases in the creatinine level, renal histological damage, and apoptosis induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. In addition, the increases in the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1, and interleukin-6, and of tumor necrosis factor-α in the kidneys were significantly reduced. Western blot analysis revealed that baicalein significantly increased Bcl-2 and reduced Bax in the kidneys. The phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 was also significantly increased. In conclusion, baicalein significantly attenuates kidney injury induced by myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. The underlying mechanisms might be related to the inhibition of apoptosis, possibly through the reduction of tumor necrosis factor-α production, the modulation of Bcl-2 and Bax, and the activation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chang-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Hsung
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: An-Han
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Chiung
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education and Health, University of Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Kuo-Wei
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D044950:Flavanones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044950:Flavanones; D010936:Plant Extracts; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; C006680:baicalein; D011494:Protein Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3