Background/Aims: Tanshinone IIA is a chemical compound extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, a perennial plant also known as red sage used in traditional Chinese medicine. Tanshinone IIA has been shown to protect against various organ injuries. In this study, we hypothesized that Tanshinone IIA could play an anti-oxidative role in contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) through enhancing Nrf2/ARE activation. Methods: To test whether Tanshinone IIA can attenuate CIN, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, we utilized two models: an in vivo Sprague-Dawley rat model of ioversol-induced CIN and an in vitro cell model of oxidative stress in which HK2 cells, a human renal tubular cell line, are treated with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). Rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 6 per group): control group, ioversol group (ioversol-induced CIN), vehicle group (ioversol-induced CIN rats pretreated with vehicle), and Tanshinone IIA group (ioversol-induced CIN rats pretreated with 25mg/kg Tanshinone IIA). Renal functions, renal injuries and apoptosis were evaluated by using serum creatinine, histological scoring, and TUNEL staning respectively. Malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxy-2’ –deoxyguanosine, and intracellular reactive oxygen species were used for oxidative stress assessment. Levels of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were measured in vivo and in vitro. Results: Tanshinone IIA attenuated renal tubular necrosis, apoptosis and oxidative stress in rats and oxidative stress in HK2 cells. Furthermore, Tanshinone IIA activated Nrf2, and up-regulated HO-1 expression in vivo and in vitro, resulting in a reduction in oxidative stress. Conclusion: Tanshinone IIA may protect against CIN through enhancing Nrf2/ARE activation.

Renalase, a recently discovered secreted flavoprotein, exerts anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory effects against renal injury in acute and chronic animal models. However, whether Renalase elicits similar effects in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains unclear. The studies presented here tested the hypothesis that Renalase may play a key role in the development of DN and may have therapeutic potential for DN. Renalase expression was measured in human kidney biopsies with DN and in kidneys of db/db mice. The role of Renalase in the development of DN was examined using a genetically engineered mouse model: Renalase knockout mice with db/db background. The renoprotective effects of Renalase in DN was evaluated in db/db mice with Renalase overexpression. In addition, the effects of Renalase on high glucose-induced mesangial cells were investigated. Renalase was down-regulated in human diabetic kidneys and in kidneys of db/db mice compared with healthy controls or db/m mice. Renalase homozygous knockout increased arterial blood pressure significantly in db/db mice while heterozygous knockout did not. Renalase heterozygous knockout resulted in elevated albuminuria and increased renal mesangial expansion in db/db mice. Mesangial hypertrophy, renal inflammation, and pathological injury in diabetic Renalase heterozygous knockout mice were significantly exacerbated compared with wild-type littermates. Moreover, Renalase overexpression significantly ameliorated renal injury in db/db mice. Mechanistically, Renalase attenuated high glucose-induced profibrotic gene expression and p21 expression through inhibiting extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2). The present study suggested that Renalase protected against the progression of DN and might be a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of DN.

Background Tubular injury plays a critical role in the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN), but current DN therapies do not combat tubular injury. This study was conducted to investigate if tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibition protects against tubular injury in diabetic rats and to examine the associated mechanisms. Methods Kidney biopsy tissues were collected and analyzed from 12 patients with DN and 5 control subjects. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated with a TNF-α inhibitor for 12 weeks. Renal function, albuminuria, histological injury, renal TNF-α messenger RNA (mRNA) and the NOD- (nucleotide-binding), LRR- (domain-like receptor) and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome were assessed. Results Diabetic patients with tubulointerstitial injury (TIN) presented with higher renal tubular expression of TNF-α mRNA and the NLRP3 inflammasome (P < 0.05). TNF-α inhibition reduced albuminuria, glomerular injury and tubular injury in STZ-induced diabetic rats (P < 0.05). Importantly, TNF-α inhibition significantly reduced the NLRP3 inflammasome in tubules (P < 0.05). Moreover, TNF-α inhibition decreased expression of tubular interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17A mRNA. Conclusions TNF-α inhibition protects against TIN by suppressing the NLRP3 inflammasome in DN rats. Future studies may focus on the clinical protective effects of TNF-α inhibition using prospective observation.

Background/Aims: Antithrombin Ⅲ (AT Ⅲ) is an important endogenous anticoagulant and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. Low ATⅢ activity is considered to be a predictor of poor outcomes in several conditions, including acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery. However, the association between the ATⅢ level and the occurrence of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) has not been elucidated. In this study, our aim was to identify the potential predictive value of ATⅢ for CIN. Methods: We enrolled a total of 460 patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG) from January 2015 to December 2016 in coronary care units (CCU). ATⅢ activity in plasma collected before CAG was measured and <75% was considered low activity according to reference values. A cross-sectional study on CIN after CAG was conducted and the risk factors were analyzed. CIN was diagnosed according to the KDIGO guideline. Results: Of these 460 patients undergoing CAG, 125 (27.17%) progressed to CIN. The incidence of CIN was significantly higher in patients with low ATⅢ activity compared to patients with normal ATⅢ activity (Pearson’s chi-squared test P=0.002). As ATⅢ activity declined, the prevalence of CIN progressively increased, with the highest value (58.8%) in patients with an ATⅢ activity <60%. Moreover, the ATⅢ activity was significantly lower in CIN patients than in non-CIN patients (84.43±16.3% vs. 92.14±13.94%, P<0.001). After multivariable analysis, ATⅢ activity <75% remained a significant independent predictor of CIN (OR 2.207,95%CI [1.29-3.777]; P=0.004) as well as baseline serum creatinine (OR 1.009,95%CI [1.001-1.016]; P=0.026). Conclusions: Patients with low ATⅢ activity had a higher risk of developing CIN after CAG. The initial ATⅢ activity may be a novel independent predictor for CIN.