title: Dioclea violacea lectin ameliorates oxidative stress and renal dysfunction in an experimental model of acute kidney injury.
abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by rapid and potentially reversible decline in renal function; however, the current management for AKI is nonspecific and associated with limited supportive care. Considering the need for more novel therapeutic approaches, we believe that lectins from Dioclea violacea (Dvl), based on their anti-inflammatory properties, could be beneficial for the treatment of AKI induced by renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR). Dvl (1 mg/kg, i.v.) or vehicle (100 µL) was administered to Wistar rats prior to the induction of bilateral renal ischemia (45 min). Following 24 hours of reperfusion, inulin and para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearances were performed to determine glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal plasma flow (RPF), renal blood flow (RBF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR). Renal inflammation was assessed using myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Kidney sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate morphological changes. Intracellular superoxide anions, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, nitric oxide and apoptosis were analyzed using flow cytometry. IR resulted in diminished GFR, RPF, RBF, and increased RVR; however, these changes were ameliorated in rats receiving Dvl. AKI-induced histomorphological changes, such as tubular dilation, tubular necrosis and proteinaceous casts, were attenuated by Dvl administration. Treatment with Dvl resulted in diminished renal MPO activity, oxidative stress and apoptosis in rats submitted to IR. Our data reveal that Dvl has a protective effect in the kidney, improving renal function after IR injury, probably by reducing neutrophil recruitment and oxidative stress. These results indicate that Dvl can be considered a new therapeutic approach for AKI-induced kidney injury.
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flavia Ps
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcella L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camilla P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tranhago
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Vila Velha Vila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogerio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piontkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emilio C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaiz Bar
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Chemistry and Geosciences, Federal University of Pelotas Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jorge L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kyria S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physiology and Pathology, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Paraiba Joao Pessoa, PB, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camille M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Balarini
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceara Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Benildo S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cavada
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito Santo Vitoria, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvana S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Meyrelles
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito SantoVitoria, ES, Brazil; Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, University of Vila VelhaVila Velha, ES, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisardo C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Vasquez
authors.affiliation: Physiological Sciences Graduate Program, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Espirito SantoVitoria, ES, Brazil; Division of Nephrology, McMaster UniversityHamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Agata L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gava
keywords: Acute kidney injury; Dioclea violacea; ischemia reperfusion; plant lectin; renal function